FINDING GOOD

READING: PROVERBS 16:1-9

Verse 2: “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits.”

Proverbs 16:2 describes the natural, unredeemed state of people. It bears repeating, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes...” That statement is so true! It is impossible to escape the fact that people freely engage in all types of foolish behaviors, many of which are harmful or destructive. It is abundantly clear to others that these behaviors should be stopped, but those who practice them justify their foolishness to themselves. They see no error in their actions. The result of this is predictable – they become entrapped by their misbehaviors and eventually reap consequences. Proverbs 16 provides an alternative as verse 20 presents the following wisdom: “He who heeds the word wisely, will find good, and whoever trusts in the Lord, happy is he.” May all who have need be delivered from what is pure in their own eyes, and heed His word wisely. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What you think happens when the Lord weighs the spirits?

2. How do people become established in unwise behaviors and sin?

I’LL BE RIGHT WITH YOU

READING: NUMBERS 9:6-12

Verse 8: “And Moses said to them, ‘Stand still, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.’”

Moses is easily recognized as a great leader. The verse above demonstrates the most important aspect of the leadership qualities that supported his success. In verses six and seven he had been confronted with a problem that had not been previously been encountered. It was presented in a challenging manner that seems as though it could have put any leader “on the spot.” For Moses at that time, a number of options were probably available. He could have called a group of advisers together. He might have deferred to Aaron who was present at the time. He probably had the authority to completely ignore the problem by dismissing those who had brought it. However, Moses had a strategy that was superior to all other possibilities. His solution was to consult with his Master, the Lord God of All. That response is enough to get a person’s juices flowing! What potential. Followers of Jesus need to more frequently, in our situations, employ this wisdom demonstrated by Moses. As stated in Ephesians 5:17, we should, “...not be unwise, but understand what the will of the LORD is.” That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Moses got a prompt response from the Lord. What should a person do when the response is not as quickly received?

2. Why do Christians not consult more frequently with the Lord in this manner?

TOWARD A BETTER ENDING

READING: GENESIS 50:15-21

Verse 20: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

The Bible describes the life of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. In the process of doing so, it also provides some important insight about God’s faithfulness. It tells of how Joseph was sold as a slave. After that, because God was with him, he became successful and was given supervision over all that his master owned. Then, because he refused to compromise godly standards, Joseph was confined to prison. Once again the Bible states that the Lord was with him and gave him favor. As the result, the keeper of the prison entrusted everything to Joseph. The Lord then used that very confinement in a manner that eventually caused him to be set over all the land of Egypt. Joseph truly had hard times that continually worsened. However, his trials were all redeemed by the reality that hard times do not translate into an absence of God. In fact, it is the presence of the Lord that takes hard times and turns them into times of great victory. In the lives of Christians, the presence of the Holy Father to care for us effectively causes even hardship to work for our good. Indeed all things do “...work together for good to those who love God...” (Romans 8:28) That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Does today’s reading have current application for you?

2. Who is another biblical personality that demonstrates this same truth about our lives in Christ?

THE MAIN THING

READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:23-32

Verse 31: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 10, the Apostle Paul addresses a controversy that existed in the early Church. People were concerned about whether it was right for them to eat meat that had been offered to idols. They probably wanted Paul to tell them that either they could eat the meat or they could not. His response to them was very different. Paul’s instructions had little to do with the right or wrong of eating the meat. He left them with opportunity to do either. What was more important to him was that their choices would glorify God. Sometimes we get wrapped around the axle looking for the right or wrong in an issue. We miss the fact that conscience or attitude may mean more than an actual choice or decision. Paul’s words to the Corinthians, as usual, apply to us also. He wrote as quoted in verse 31 above. The message is that our choices are validated when they glorify the Lord! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What, for us, is similar to what the issue of eating meat was to them?

2. If you were in the Corinthian Church, how would you have responded to Paul’s counsel?

NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION

READING: JOSHUA 24:14-18

Verse 15: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Today’s thought begins with a Bible question. Here’s the question. What did Saul, the first king of Israel, have in common with Aaron the brother of Moses and priest over Israel? The answer is that both pleased the people under their authority instead of exercising godly leadership. Also, in both cases, the consequences were great! Since not many are placed in positions of leadership over nations, this point may not seem very pertinent on the surface. It is true, however, that most of us have to face times of decision between what we know to be right and what others want us to do or support. Good preparation for such times even before they occur, is to make appropriate preparations in advance. We can do that by making the choice and the commitment to exercise godly responses no matter what circumstances arise. The chances of wavering in some future decision can be reduced by, in the present, following the example of Joshua. We can constantly and sincerely determine “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Accordingly, when the challenge comes we can already have a made up mind. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What do you think was the result of Joshua’s statement?

2. About what do you have a “made up mind”?

I’M SORRY – NOT ENOUGH

READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:8-12

Verse 10: “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Sara and Judith both got cookies for the cookie jar without getting permission. Afterward, they heard their little brother telling mom what they had done, and knew they were in trouble. Sara thought, “I know I should not have taken that cookie. I was wrong and I’ll ask mom to forgive me even though there will be consequences.” Judith thought, “I should have been more careful about getting that cookie. Now I need to say the right thing to mom in order to avoid the consequences.” Sara was sorry she had disobeyed the rule. Judith was just sorry she was caught. As adults, people still react in those two different manners. The difference in these two responses reflects the truth of the verse above. Both types of sorrow are still among us. Therefore, there are those reading this devotional thought today who practice the sorrow of the world. If you are one of those, you should know that the Lord Jesus has saved you from the death that is the result of this practice. It is His desire to change your worldly sorrow into godly sorrow. Please talk to someone who will help you connect with the Jesus the Son of God who is your Savior and the only way to obtain godly sorrow. That’s a thought – about God’s word.

RESPONSE

1. Pleas pray for those who need to come into godly sorrow.

2. Please pray for yourself to gain victory over worldly sorrow if it exists in your life.

ME FIRST!

READING: 1 KINGS: 17:10-15

Verse 13: “And Elijah said to her, ‘Do nor fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son.”’

This is a passage of scripture that is about two kinds of strong faith. It demonstrates the faith of the Widow of Zarephath and the faith of Elijah the Prophet. Elijah told the widow to give him a part of the last of her food, which was all that separated she and her son from death. She obeyed the prophet and then found that her food supply was continuously replenished even as she used it. That was remarkable faith to give in a desperate situation. However, it also took great faith for Elijah to receive. This was the last of the food. Most people would find Elijah’s response a very difficult one. There would be guilt about receiving in a way that could potentially have shortened the lives of two innocent people. There would be concern about how that would look to others. So in this instance, we can see both a challenge concerning faith to give as well as a challenge of faith to receive. We are well taught and encouraged to give, but this scripture validates that there also are times to receive. In fact, when done in godly obedience, it is every bit as important to receive as to give. As God’s wordinforms us, there is “...a time for every purpose under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Can you think of a time of significant challenge to receive?

2. Which challenge would you prefer, the widow’s or the prophet’s?