SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. [Proverbs 12:3] I am just focusing on one proverb today, one that summarizes the wisdom of all of them. The basic message here is that if I want to live a stable, secure, rooted life, I need to choose integrity, honesty, humility, morality, etc., the kinds of qualities that Jesus lived and taught. All of these proverbs stress the doing the right thing, i.e. putting wisdom into practice.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. [Matthew 7:24-27] Notice here too, puts them into practice! This in contrast to the person who hears, and does not put them into practice. This is a message especially for people who belong to ‘church’ or say they are ‘christians’. Its not enough to hear, or to claim, we need to practice what Jesus lived and taught. Those who DO the right thing cannot be uprooted.
But aren’t we saved by grace alone? Yes, God graciously forgives us and welcomes us back to live with Him, for Him, like Him. But if, once forgiven, we consistently choose to live contrary to God’s will, we forfeit the blessing of that forgiveness. Having been assured of forgiveness and eternal life, we now must choose, with all of our heart and with all of His help, to live the righteous life. Of course we will fail, and the Lord graciously forgives us. But we must keep on striving, with His help, to do the right thing, to speak in a good way, to live like Jesus. If we do, then we are building our lives on a solid foundation; we may occasionally fail, but we will not ultimately fall.
Following Jesus is not just accepting forgiveness and awaiting eternal life; it involves daily living, daily choosing, daily striving with His help to live the life He saved us to live. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [2 Peter 1:10-11]
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for forgiving me and assuring me of eternal life. Help me with Your Spirit, to live and choose right, with all of my heart!
Choices.
I am reminded of the words of Joshua ‘Choose this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my household, we will serve the living God.’
That choice affects all my doings. They must see that we are Christians, Jesus followers, by our love. Our knowing = our loving = our doing. We daily need to strive to walk our talk. Practice what we preach. We need to live the Word each and every day. Today God Is First. As far as it depends upon me, I must live at peace with all mankind walking in His Sonshine, directed/guided/lead by His Spirit.
Lord, give me the ears to hear Your voice always. Lord give me the eyes that see You each day. Lord, touch my tongue so that I may speak Your words. Lord, may my hands be Your hands of love in action.
By Your presence I can be HeartStrong. GodStrong. LiveStrong.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.