October 29, 2008 6:07 AM
Sam wrote:
Marinate. Sink in. Absorb. Good word, yesterday Joe. I simply adore a good marinated steak once charbroiled on a grill. It is full of richness and taste. And that is what we become, full of richness and taste, when we DO marinate (or as the Psalmist writes, meditate) on the Word of God.
This morning, there is an awful lot to marinate on. But, like Joe says, sometimes a good marination takes time. If we don't devote the time to marinate on God's word, we probably won't be full of richness and taste.
Take this chapter (29) for example. The very first verse could mean a lot if we spent some time on it...so, why not?
Yesterday, JB 'apologized' for staying on a 'rebuking' theme. I think it is a good theme to marinate on. As we have seen in Proverbs so far, so did the Solomon and the other writers of this book. "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy." Stiff-necked means 'stubborn'. You know the type--the person who holds his head up straight and strong when rebuked, rather than let it hang low in humility.
Are any of you like that? Do you hate being told you SHOULD (not HAVE TO) get up a bit earlier in the morning to spend some time in God's Word? Do you hate reading this blog when another brother points out one of your faults you have failed to confess? Do you not like it when someone questions why you missed a day on the blog?
If so, then consider yourself stiff-necked. Better to answer in humility rather than bitterness. As this proverb says, those who remain bitter, stiff-necked, stubborn, after several of these types of rebukes, will "suddenly be destroyed", AND can not be saved (without remedy).
No JB, you SHOULD stay on the subject of rebuke. That is one thing the Bible is good for as we all learned from Paul. Of course, along with rebuke, MUST come love. Rebuking someone for the sake of rebuking is also stiff-neckedness, but rebuking someone out of love for their souls is an act similar to those of Jesus throughout His ministry. He loved the Pharisees as much as he loved the poor. That is why He continued to rebuke them. To prevent them from being destroyed--without remedy.
October 29, 2008 1:30 PM
Johnbob wrote:
Thanks for the writeup. I don't know about you, but I tend to respond well to strong teaching and even rebuking - it is refreshing - if it is done correctly - again, I can remember 2 specific times it was done incorrectly to me personally (I am sure there were more), but a whole lot more times where it was just and deserved and needed. I have played sports most of my life (though you would know it by the shape I am in now, but that is a topic for another day) - rebukes are common and expected and absolutely needed at times. The goal - to win the game, to become a better player, to become a better team. The goal of a spiritual rebuke is to get someone to repent, to soften their heart, to get them to heaven. Most of the time teaching, correcting, training, encouraging will suffice, but sometimes a rebuke is just the thing. Done correctly, it is a great example of love.
Anyway, I've got to get back to work before my boss rebukes me... Reply to this
October 29, 2008 4:15 PM
Rich wrote:
Verse 12: "If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked."
As men, we are the "rulers" of our households. If we listen to lies, those we lead (spouse and children) will become wicked. There is a scary thought. How do we listen to lies? The world tells us lies all the time. There are lies on TV, lies on the internet, lies among colleagues, and much more. The lies are that "just a little sin is okay" or "you deserve a break today" or many, many more that we are all familiar with. How do we not listen to the lies of the world? By "listening" to the words of God. There are many, many important reasons for why we MUST spend time in God's word everyday. One is that the word of God is the only guaranteed source of truth we have. When we spend time reading and meditating on God's word, we are spending time with the truth. We are staying away from the lies of the world.
I don't know about you guys but when I think of this verse applying to me, my wife and my children, I get a more complete appreciation for what God is trying to communicate to me. Reply to this
October 29, 2008 5:29 PM
joe wrote:
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Filtered through my life and experiences - these words of wisdom reinforce my conviction that you can love a person, but hate their...(fill in the blank).
I use to isolation myself because of the "I love you but I'll harm you" perspective that still seems popular in todays families and friends.
Many in my circle, be it family, friends, church relationships, etc., would cut your heart and in the same breath ask you to love them in some manner.
Lets take into consideration the move "Matrix". We all are aware that evil jumps in and out all of us to harm those around us, including ourselves. As a counter attack Father has given me many of His words written on my heart and mind to recognize when I am confronted with the evil within myself or those around me.
Unlike many "Christians" I use my ancestral rights to claim my inheritance through Christ Jesus - the Holy Spirit. I ask the Holy Spirit to come forth in every way to assert the power, discernment and true love needed to combat the forces in this world. I ask on a daily bases for the Holy Angels to come forth to fight these evil forces that are too strong for me.
We come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy in time of need.
Marinate. Sink in. Absorb. Good word, yesterday Joe. I simply adore a good marinated steak once charbroiled on a grill. It is full of richness and taste. And that is what we become, full of richness and taste, when we DO marinate (or as the Psalmist writes, meditate) on the Word of God.
This morning, there is an awful lot to marinate on. But, like Joe says, sometimes a good marination takes time. If we don't devote the time to marinate on God's word, we probably won't be full of richness and taste.
Take this chapter (29) for example. The very first verse could mean a lot if we spent some time on it...so, why not?
Yesterday, JB 'apologized' for staying on a 'rebuking' theme. I think it is a good theme to marinate on. As we have seen in Proverbs so far, so did the Solomon and the other writers of this book. "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy." Stiff-necked means 'stubborn'. You know the type--the person who holds his head up straight and strong when rebuked, rather than let it hang low in humility.
Are any of you like that? Do you hate being told you SHOULD (not HAVE TO) get up a bit earlier in the morning to spend some time in God's Word? Do you hate reading this blog when another brother points out one of your faults you have failed to confess? Do you not like it when someone questions why you missed a day on the blog?
If so, then consider yourself stiff-necked. Better to answer in humility rather than bitterness. As this proverb says, those who remain bitter, stiff-necked, stubborn, after several of these types of rebukes, will "suddenly be destroyed", AND can not be saved (without remedy).
No JB, you SHOULD stay on the subject of rebuke. That is one thing the Bible is good for as we all learned from Paul. Of course, along with rebuke, MUST come love. Rebuking someone for the sake of rebuking is also stiff-neckedness, but rebuking someone out of love for their souls is an act similar to those of Jesus throughout His ministry. He loved the Pharisees as much as he loved the poor. That is why He continued to rebuke them. To prevent them from being destroyed--without remedy.
Today....rebuke someone.
Reply to this
Thanks for the writeup. I don't know about you, but I tend to respond well to strong teaching and even rebuking - it is refreshing - if it is done correctly - again, I can remember 2 specific times it was done incorrectly to me personally (I am sure there were more), but a whole lot more times where it was just and deserved and needed. I have played sports most of my life (though you would know it by the shape I am in now, but that is a topic for another day) - rebukes are common and expected and absolutely needed at times. The goal - to win the game, to become a better player, to become a better team. The goal of a spiritual rebuke is to get someone to repent, to soften their heart, to get them to heaven. Most of the time teaching, correcting, training, encouraging will suffice, but sometimes a rebuke is just the thing. Done correctly, it is a great example of love.
Anyway, I've got to get back to work before my boss rebukes me...
Reply to this
Verse 12: "If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked."
As men, we are the "rulers" of our households. If we listen to lies, those we lead (spouse and children) will become wicked. There is a scary thought. How do we listen to lies? The world tells us lies all the time. There are lies on TV, lies on the internet, lies among colleagues, and much more. The lies are that "just a little sin is okay" or "you deserve a break today" or many, many more that we are all familiar with. How do we not listen to the lies of the world? By "listening" to the words of God. There are many, many important reasons for why we MUST spend time in God's word everyday. One is that the word of God is the only guaranteed source of truth we have. When we spend time reading and meditating on God's word, we are spending time with the truth. We are staying away from the lies of the world.
I don't know about you guys but when I think of this verse applying to me, my wife and my children, I get a more complete appreciation for what God is trying to communicate to me.
Reply to this
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Filtered through my life and experiences - these words of wisdom reinforce my conviction that you can love a person, but hate their...(fill in the blank).
I use to isolation myself because of the "I love you but I'll harm you" perspective that still seems popular in todays families and friends.
Many in my circle, be it family, friends, church relationships, etc., would cut your heart and in the same breath ask you to love them in some manner.
Lets take into consideration the move "Matrix". We all are aware that evil jumps in and out all of us to harm those around us, including ourselves.
As a counter attack Father has given me many of His words written on my heart and mind to recognize when I am confronted with the evil within myself or those around me.
Unlike many "Christians" I use my ancestral rights to claim my inheritance through Christ Jesus - the Holy Spirit.
I ask the Holy Spirit to come forth in every way to assert the power, discernment and true love needed to combat the forces in this world. I ask on a daily bases for the Holy Angels to come forth to fight these evil forces that are too strong for me.
We come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy in time of need.
Glory to the Father.
Reply to this
I posted on the wrong day. see tomorrow for today.
Reply to this