SPEECH, TONGUES AND LIPS

READING: PROVERBS 12:17-22

Verse 17: “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.”

There are times when the Bible seems to pound at us in an almost relentless manner in order to drive home a point. One of the places in God’s word where this occurs is Proverbs 12. Here is what I mean. In that chapter we come to verse 17 as quoted above. This is a clear warning for people to exercise care in what they say. Then the next verse says “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health”. There is another caution to us to guard our speech. The next verse goes further to state “The truthful lip will be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” That soesn't leave much “wiggle room”, but it gets tighter. Just a couple of verses later in the same chapter we are told the following “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” The message is strong and abundant! We are to use our speech, tongues and lips to promote godliness. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. For what in the verses of this reading for are you grateful?

2. How has the Lord moved in your life to teach you about the lessons in these verses?

BEYOND A GOOD DEAL

READING: ROMANS 5:6-11

Verse 8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

What would a person do, who desperately needed a job and who received a job offer under the following terms? Starting salary is $85,000 after taxes, with a 10% annual bonus for satisfactory performance. There will be yearly pay increases as a share of the company’s profit. There will also be generous full benefits and the use of a company car. A suitable home will be located and all moving expenses paid. It is all legitimate, honest and above board! A jobless person would say “I’ll take it”. In fact, it sounds so good that this person would want an air-tight written contract to guarantee all of the stated terms of employment. When it comes to guaranteed terms, our Lord Jesus was different. He did not have up front stipulations before becoming our Savior. He died for us while we were still sinners. He did not demand it to be demonstrated that His death for us would actually result in salvations. There was no number of salvations that was established as sufficient to make it worthwhile. He did not defer pending an assurance that His sacrifice would be respected. When there was no visible promise that human virtue would result, Jesus gave all so that the love of the father would be fulfilled. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. In your relationship with the Lord, is there anyway you are holding back for a more of certain result?

2. Why are we hesitant at times to move before there are assurances?

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

READING: ROMANS 8:12-17

Verse 14: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”

The Bible uses family relationships to describe, and to help us understand, the types of interactions Father God wants to have with His children. Today’s passage establishes His role as Father through the blessings that are listed in it. He supplies us with the blessing of sonship, the blessing of our identity and stature in His family and the blessing of Kingdom status as joint heirs with Christ. In addition to this passage, Hebrews 12 is eloquent as it explains the chastening of the Father as a form of acceptance, love and protection for His children. These are verses of scripture which inform us that the Lord’s desire is to parent us, and that His intent for us is to respond as His loving children. Our God offers us very special relationships with Himself. These offers grant us opportunities to live lives that reflect His infinite glory. Today, may you as His child, relate to Him in ways that consistently welcome His offer to be your Heavenly Father. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How does a person know if they are led by the Spirit of God?

2. Do you have any discomfort with the concept of God your loving Father or as your heavenly Dad?

GROWN TO BE THE BEST

READING: GALATIANS 5:16-26

Verse 22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law”

Pete and Jack both contracted with a fruit distributor to grow peaches and deliver them in July. It was agreed that the grower who produced the best quality would receive a bonus for his crop. Pete pruned his trees in January, and dug around them and fertilized them in February. When insects began to appear in April, he controlled them with organic pesticides. He regularly irrigated in May, June and early July. Then when the peaches began to ripen, Pete protected them from being eaten by the birds. Jack’s response was different. He watered his trees when he thought they might be dry. Other than that, he gave them no further care. It’s easy to conclude which of the two earned the bonus. There are godly qualities that are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. They are listed in today’s verse. We are the fruit trees upon which this spiritual fruit is grown. Pete’s care for his peaches is a reflection of the manner in which we are so carefully developed by our Loving Heavenly Father. We are raised to be the cream of the crop. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. With which of the qualities identified as fruit of the Spirit do you identify most?

2. Regarding that fruit, what stage of development have you reached?

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER - NOT

READING: NUMBERS 14:39-45

Verse 40: “And they rose up early in the morning and went up to the top of the mountain, saying “Here we are, and we will go up to the place which the Lord has promised, for we have sinned’”

This passage relates how the Israelites rejected God’s plan. They sinned by refusing to cross into the Promised Land when they should have. As they realized the magnitude of their offense against the Lord, they tried to correct their sin. Belatedly, they tried to do what God had previously ordained. The problem was that it was too late, and therefore in so doing they compounded their crisis. First they had disobeyed the Lord, then they made it worse by trying to pacify Him rather than repenting. Their experience confirms the frequently used expression: “two wrongs don’t make a right”. By using their own solution instead of seeking forgiveness and further direction, they added rebellion to disobedience. We can use their experience to good advantage. When disobedience is encountered, the serious error illustrated in this passage can be avoided. Instead, use can be made of the godly alternative of turning to God. He will provide His generous gifts of forgiveness, repentance and ongoing wisdom. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. At what stage of our activities do we need to make sure to obey God?

2. If two wrongs don’t make a right, what do they produce?

DIRECT AND TO THE POINT

READING: PROVERBS 12:1-3

Verse 1: “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Sometimes biblical language is very direct. Statements are used which eliminate any doubt that undesirable behaviors are being identified. For example, John the Baptist called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers.” Jesus said they were faithless and perverse. He told them that harlots would enter  the kingdom before they would. The verse above is every bit as pointed as the preceding statements. There is no political correctness to be found as it flat out says those who hate reproof are just plain stupid. Most of us would hesitate to say someone is stupid, but there is no such reluctance as that conclusion is offered in this scripture. It seems Solomon was being deliberate and direct in his intent to persuade or even shock the reader into being willing to accept correction. Surely no one wants to be so bluntly labeled in that way. Therefore, may the desire to avoid that experience motivate many to seek godly instruction. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Why is it stupid to hate reproach?

2. Can you think of another scripture that is direct in the same manner as those mentioned in this reading?

THE SURE THING

READING: PROVERBS 11:16-23

Verse 18: “The wicked man does deceptive work, but he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.”

Following is a list of professions. As you read them, what common characteristics do you see among them? See if you can tell how they are alike. Here they are: strategists, investors, meteorologists, designers, chemists, architects and sciesmotologists. Do you get it? They are similar because they all  involve taking information which is available in the present, and using it to estimate what it can become in the future. Use of computers and the resulting expansion of knowledge have made possible more accurate predictions of future events and results. However, there will always be limits  to the accuracy of human expectations. The most precise calculations will still involve some “percent of error”. Given that natural reality, we turn to the Word of God. There we find constant predictions, known as prophetic declarations, that are perfectly accurate; and that to our immense benefit. Proverbs 11:18 is one such prediction that is perfectly accurate with zero percent of error. This accuracy is found only in His word and in His order! There was a sign in a work place with two rules. The first was: “The boss is always right”. The second was: “If the boss is wrong, revert to the first rule”. In God’s Kingdom the second rule is not needed. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. What promised aspect of eternal life excites you the most?

2. What has been your most recent opportunity to “sow righteousness”?