Read the Bible in a Year (17JUL19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, July 17’s Bible reading is Proverbs 13-15.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, July 18’s Bible reading is Proverbs 16-18. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

PROVERBS MOMENT – (17JUL19) “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). You’re driving down the highway in the far-right lane where you are going the speed limit as posted by the sign. The car behind you is tailing you in such a manner that the driver is almost intimidating as he tries to get you to put your foot to the pedal. He eventually uses the left lane to pass you, as he should have done initially, only to give you anything but a prayer sign with his finger as he looks your way in anger, while passing you by. You pray that he makes it safely to his destination as he successfully switches into your lane right ahead, and speeds away with only dust and fumes to be left as evidence that he was ever on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94% of all traffic accidents is due to human error and 33% of those are linked to road rage. Yes, people’s anger causes accidents, and in some cases death due to not being able to control their rage. Although, the writer in Proverbs was referencing a person’s speech when it comes to anger, we can apply kindness in every situation in life such as driving. Now if we were to be honest, many of us are guilty of blowing the horn a little longer than we should, due to frustration on the road. What we cannot say in words to the other driver, we allow our anger manifest with our honker…honk, honk.

There is a such thing, however, as righteous anger when it comes to the things of God. Jesus expressed this type of anger when He made a whip and drove the money changers out of the temple (John 2:1-16). He did not appreciate His Father’s house being turned into a market. The Bible says, “His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me’ ” (John 2:17). When the righteous see wicked things taking place, anger for the Lord is appropriate as a corrective measure. Nevertheless, we must be sure that in our anger, we do not sin because displaced anger has caused many to kill their neighbor, beat their wives, live a life of vengeance, and end up in a 6x8 prison cell with steel bars or worse. Even when one speaks to their spouse, they should do so with grace on their lips, so that harmony will not be displaced in the marriage. The Bible says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). As Christians, we should never harbor anger in our hearts towards others, but be peacemakers when at all possible for the kingdom of God. Something to ponder….

QUESTION OF THE DAY - (17JUL19) How many people think that they can get to Heaven by the amount of money they put in an offering plate? How many people think that working in the church means that their names are written in the Book of Life? What about the person who thinks that because they are “good” that gives them automatic entry to the Kingdom of God? The writer in Proverbs wrote, “The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him” (Proverbs 15:8). We can do all the right things and still not honor God because we are working outside of His will. We see this in the story of King Saul when he was told to kill the Amalekites for what they had done to Israel when they left Egypt. The Lord had given the Prophet Samuel instructions for Saul that he was to not spare any of the Amalekites and was to kill their sheep, cattle, and donkeys (1 Samuel 15:1-3). King Saul, however, failed to completely do what the Lord said, and kept the best of the sheep and cattle for he and his men. He also failed to kill the king of the Amalekites and initially lied to Samuel when asked about it. He told the prophet that the best of the animals were to be used for sacrifice. Samuels response to Saul was this; “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Therefore, God does not want us to do “Christian” things without there being obedience attached to it.

Jesus said that many who call on His name would not enter Heaven. The Bible says, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:22-23). Who was Jesus actually talking to in this text? He was speaking to the ones who “claimed” to be followers of His. It is not good enough to work for Him without allowing Jesus to do a work in us. We can give offerings, feed the poor, teach the word, and be a martyr, but if we only give sacrifices without righteousness being in our hearts, our works means nothing. The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous and answers them. Something to ponder….  

PROVERBS MOMENT – (17JUL19) “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16). The world of entertainment is always amazed when a celebrity dies by suicide. They are often in shock when someone that was famous, rich, attractive, and seemingly on top of the world kill themselves by way of an overdose, hanging, shooting, or some other method of choice. In hindsight, many would say that the signs were there, but their family, friends, and loved ones often weep due to the lack of intervention that may have saved the person’s life. If any lesson is to be learned from such unfortunate occurrences is that money does not buy happiness. It is here today, and then those who have it could be gone tomorrow because it did not fill the hole on the inside of them. Their riches were ultimately useless because the mental turmoil that they were experiencing far outweighed the satisfaction of having new homes, cars, jewels, status, and of course the flashing cameras of the Paparazzi.

The writer of Proverbs lets us know that it is better to prioritize our relationship with God over money. A person may not have a lot of material possessions, but they have the peace of Christ in their heart. While the person with money may be in turmoil over how to stay on top, the one with little is focused on pleasing his God. Jesus posed the question, “What good is if for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36). Many people are chasing after material possessions, and even though God does not have a problem with His children having nice things, we must be careful to keep Him first. The Lord is the only Constant in our lives because material things can be here today and gone today. Yes, it happens just that fast for those who experienced an unexpected earthquake, tornado, flood, sinkhole, wildfire, etc. You can have a job today and be laid off tomorrow. You can have a nice home, but have to mortgage it to pay for emergency medical bills. Some have been in a marriage, but ended up in poverty after a divorce. Our faith, hope, and trust must always be in the Lord because the fear of Him is what sustains us far beyond what all the wealth in the world could do. Something to ponder….