Proverbs 3:1-2

"My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." - Proverbs 3:1-2

Think about all the things people seek after. We run after many, many things, and often we trample on God's laws to get them. Here, Solomon was talking to his own son when he said "forget not my law"...which is why "my" is a lower-case "m". Specifically, this verse can apply to the wisdom found in Proverbs. But Solomon's wisdom was given by God, and his law based on the law of God. Shouldn't be stop trampling on God's laws in the pursuit of what we want. When, truly, long life...length of days...peace. All these things are things people seek earnestly after, and they do not find them because they've turned this way and that randomly, with no regard for God, while on the search!

Aside from that, more important point, that following God's way is the only way to what we truly desire...because while living in the Spirit, what we desire should align more and more closely with what He desires, it's interesting to me that "length of days" and "long life" are both mentioned. Either this is for emphasis (mentioning the same thing twice)...or they are two different things. I'm inclined to think the latter, since "peace" is also mentioned, but only once. I know that I want all three of these things...long life, peace, they are self-explanatory. But how many of us have said "There just aren't enough hours in the day"...we could all use some LENGTH of days!

Action for Today: When pursuing your goals, do so God's way and following His laws. If you can't attain your goal without bending (or maybe even breaking) His law...it's time to re-evaluate your goal!

Act 2:14-36

In this passage, Peter addresses the crowd at Pentecost. The apostles had been speaking in the Spirit, such that everyone heard their words in their own language. Though some had marvelled, some had also said the the apostles were drunk, implying they were just babbling. When Peter stood to refute that mockery by the ones who did not believe, he didn't argue with worldly wisdom. He didn't say something was true because it was his opinion. What he did was quote from Scripture, from the words of David and of Joel. And he let that Scripture make the argument. God has promised us that His word does not return void. When we are speaking to unbelievers, especially, we should have Scripture ready for an answer.

However, we can't do that if we don't know Scripture. If we haven't read our Bible, we don't know what's in it. If we don't have any passages memorized, how can we possibly use them in a conversation? If we don't actually know what the Biblical principle is on a matter, how can we express it to a friend who comes to us asking for advice, whether they are a believer or not? In that case, we can only offer our opinion.

Peter's 'opinion' did not lead to about three thosand souls being added to the believers' number on Pentecost. The power of God and the Word of God did.

If we were called on to speak to someone today, whether one person or a crowd, about what we believe, could we do so effectively? Could we bring Scripture to back up our argument so that it is not just our opinion.

Challenge for Today: Find a verse that is particularly meaningful to you that you do not have memorized already. Memorize it and meditate on it today. Commit it to memory until it is "written on the tablet of your heart". Whether that takes a day or a week, make sure it sticks. What verse did you choose?

14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the
crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to
you; listen carefully to what I say.
15. These men are not drunk, as you
suppose. It's only nine in the morning!
16. No, this is what was spoken by
the prophet Joel:
17. " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my
Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will
see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
18. Even on my servants, both
men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will
prophesy.
19. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth
below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20. The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day
of the Lord.
21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.'
22. "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man
accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you
through him, as you yourselves know.
23. This man was handed over to you by
God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put
him to death by nailing him to the cross.
24. But God raised him from the
dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death
to keep its hold on him.
25. David said about him: " 'I saw the Lord always
before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
26.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in
hope,
27. because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your
Holy One see decay.
28. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will
fill me with joy in your presence.'
29. "Brothers, I can tell you confidently
that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this
day.
30. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that
he would place one of his descendants on his throne.
31. Seeing what was
ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to
the grave, nor did his body see decay.
32. God has raised this Jesus to life,
and we are all witnesses of the fact.
33. Exalted to the right hand of God,
he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what
you now see and hear.
34. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he
said, " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
35. until I make
your enemies a footstool for your feet." '
36. "Therefore let all Israel be
assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Christ."
37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said
to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
38. Peter
replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
39. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far
off--for all whom the Lord our God will call."
40. With many other words he
warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt
generation."
41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about
three thousand were added to their number that day.

Proverbs 18:2

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

We live in an age where self-awareness, self-esteem, and personal experience are viewed as the pinnacle of things to be desired. From drugs to New Age religions to psychoanalsysis, people are encouraged to "expand their horizons", "get in touch with their inner self", and find their own truth, which is true (of course) simply because they believe it. That is not wisdom. People earnestly seek after that kind of worldly wisdom, even though it is, according to this Proverb, folly.

What we as Christians should be trying to discover is not our own heart...but the heart of God. Then, only after we have a as clear a picture as we can grasp of that, do we look to our own heart and find in how many ways it does not measure up. If people today would spend more time worrying about "am I right WITH GOD?" and less time worrying about "what seems right TO ME?", many people who are seeking purpose and not finding it would do find it. And many of us who are running around trying to find something fulfilling would find ourselves satisfied.

We, as Christians in particular, are looking in all the wrong places for fulfillment. Why don't we stop looking for fulfillment in the latest entertainment, the biggest house, and the outward show of religion and start looking for it in knowing God's heart, giving Him praise, and doing His will?

Challenge for today: Seek God in such a way that you stop seeking yourself and your own desires. As the old song says

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of Earth will go strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace."

Luke 13:23-24

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved ? And he said unto them,
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in , and shall not be able .

We hear many people talk about staying on "the narrow" path or staying on the "straight and narrow", and usually it is in reference to the passage in Matthew 7, which parallels this one in content but mentions also the "wide" path that leads to destruction.

But what does that really mean?

Here, it is clear that Jesus was speaking to people who are believers, in the sense that they believed in Christ, and at least the one who was asking the question believed Him to be a teacher with true wisdom. The apostles would have been among the crowd He said these words to. The passage is not written speaking to those we would consider unbelievers or "heathen" to tell them to change their ways and try to enter the strait gate.

And still He says "strive" to enter the strait gate. The people who He was speaking to had not already arrived. They yet had journey in front of them. The NIV says "make every effort to". And the passage goes on to say that many who seek will not be able to enter. So even those actively looking for the way will miss it...not just those stumbling in the dark without a clue of what they need to do. Many people who think they have salvation will find in the end that they do not, because they are depending on something other than the free gift Christ has given to us.

Consider today that we should all be striving to enter at that straight gate. If we are not, then we need to re-examine our hearts. We should be striving every day...there is not a point at which we say, "Well, that is settled," and we start coasting on autopilot, content knowing we're headed for eternal life.

If you are "coasting", look closely at your heart. And, first of all, make sure that you have a relationship with Christ. Note that I didn't say "Make sure someone led you through the 'Sinner's Prayer'" or "Make sure you're going to church" or "Make sure you're a 'good' person." Make sure you have a personal relationship with Christ. Too often, we invite people to church, they answer an altar call, someone explains and prays with them...then we say, "Hallelujah! Now that's settled!" And we in evangelical congregations, especially, make that tick mark in our Bible or print in the bulletin that a certain number of people "got saved" today. However, saying a prayer, in and of itself, is not what saves someone. It is the belief, the faith, and the giving of your life behind that prayer, a person's acceptance, on a personal level, of what Christ has done for them. Make sure you are the person who has believed and personally accepted.
And if you have any question about this in your mind, feel free to email me at this address:
sunday_storyteller@yahoo.com
I will talk with you about it, or if you'd prefer, I'll point you in the direction of a pastor who can talk with you. And believe me when I say it will be confidential, because it is so hard for us who are believers to let anyone else think that maybe we have some lack of faith or are not that "good Christian" we put forward for everyone to see. But all that is SO unimportant when compared to making sure things are right in this department.

For those of us who are certain we have a relationship with Christ, if we are not striving, it's time for a heart check. Because if we truly believe and have accepted salvation. If we trulybelieve that our neighbor beside us is going to spend eternity in torment in Hell if they do not also find that personal relationship with Christ. If we truly believe that we as the church...as individuals in the church...are the hands and feet of Christ. If we truly believe that what good works we do to others we do to Christ...if we believe all these things, then we do not have license to sit idle. We should be striving for that strait gate every day if we trulybelieve. To do otherwise may be indication of a lack of belief.

Challenge for Today: Make your decisions today, from the largest to the smallest, as if each one were a choice to strive for that strait gate...or not.

Luke 13:1-5

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Jesus was speaking to a group of people who, at the time, were looking at the physical circumstances surrounding someone and judging, from that, the state of the person's conscience and soul. They were labelling people as "sinners" because bad things had happened to those peopole.

Too often, we do the same. We assume someone in poverty is not in God's favor...or someone who is blessed financially is. Or we assume that someone for whom everything is going "right" is obviously doing what is right and God is blessing them. But this is something we need to be careful with. For example, Job was doing everything right...and yet he was inflicted with horrible things that happened to him, his family, his fortune. (Interesting to note that at that time, his friends also started looking for what "sin" had brought this calamity on him.)

We also sometimes assume that, when something bad happens, we have done something to "deserve" it. Or we have brought it on ourselves. That is not always the case. Though certainly it is worth doing a self-examination when things go south to see if we are harboring some unconfessed, unrepented sin. But that's worth doing when things are going WELL, too!

Action Item for Today: Don't be quick to judge people, based on the circumstances you see around them.

Luke 12:54-57

He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time? Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?

This passage points out that we look at the sky and see signs of what the weather will bring. Yet we look around us and see "signs of the times" and don't recgonize them. I'd even say that many who dosee and discern signs of the times pay no heed to them.

How many people do you know who believe we are "living in the End Times" or "His return is very soon, and so we better be believing..." or any other ways of saying what many of us know: Time is almost up for the human race. Probably, you know at leaset a few people...and quite possibly you know many. Maybe you are one of these people. I would wonder if someone who is versed in the Bible were to look at current events and not reach the conclusion that time is running short. (Even many secular sci-fi writers or scientists have reached the same conclusion, that...not for the same reason or by the same means that Christians believe, but for other reasons and by other means...Man's time on Earth is winding to a close.)

Then, how many of us who profess to believe that...who even do believe that...then go out and live like we believe it? Really, if you believe that Jesus is coming back tomorrow...maybe today...maybe next week... then are you doing something you would want Him to find you doing?

Consider the passage just shortly previous to this one:
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching;" - Luke 12:36

Or this one, also in the same chapter:
And that servant, which knew his lord's wil, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. - Luke 12:47

Are those of us who profess to believe that Christ is coming back living according to His will and being in places where He would have us be, among people He would have us associated with and minister to, and doing things we would not be embarassed if He found us doing?

Further...if we truly believe that the end is soon, are we reaching out to people who are lost? Or do we thing we have another day, another week, another month to reach that co-worker or friend or family member or stranger who we know needs to know the truth of Christ and is dying without Him? How foolish to assume we have even one more minute, much less "time enough", if we believe His return is imminent. Are we, by idleness, sitting by and let other people die spiritually because they are without a teacher to point them the way to life?

Challenge for Today: Live as if you knew Jesus was coming back today. Of course, no one knows that He is, as no one knows the hour...but there's no one who can say accurately that He isn't, either. We are not guaranteed even one more day. Today judge for yourselves what is right...and do it!

Luke 11:1-4

And it came to pass , that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased , one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray , as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray , say , Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come . Thy will be done , as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

This is a very familiar passage of Scripture, or at least when I started reading it, I thought it was. It is the Lord’s Prayer, but it is not the more familiar version that is found in Matthew, which is the one many people know from the version set to music. This one is slightly different. It is one thing that makes it different that I want to comment on today.

This prayer ends with “but deliver us from evil”.

It does not go on with the more familiar, “For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Most of us traditionally end our prayers with “Amen”. Whether at mealtime or in church or before going to sleep in the evening or in the morning quiet time or wherever it is that you pray. But the more I read about prayer, and the more I pray on a consistent basis and more continuously through the day, the more I find that prayer is very much a dialogue, as you would speak to a friend and listen for a response, more than a religious exercise.

Think about it this way. When you talk to a friend, you may sometimes use an ending word. It wouldn’t be “Amen”, of course, but it might be something like “Bye!” if you’re on the phone and the conversation is ended. Or maybe, “See you later,” or something like that, if you were then leaving the friend’s presence. But every single time you talk to a friend, you don’t add that “ending” to a conversation, because the conversation is not necessarily over. If you’re friend is just in the next room or you intend to see them again in five minutes, you don’t feel obligated to add a “Bye” to the end of the sentence. Otherwise, you’d sound like a telegraph message. Stop. And that wouldn’t sound like a conversation. Stop. It would sound like a formal message. Stop. Or like a robot. Stop.

So… the point is, there’s a place for “amen”, but there’s also a place for just praying and conversing with God and not ending all your requests (or even necessarily that prayer session) with “Amen”. And the even deeper point is that we should all be trying to cultivate that kind of prayer life that incorporates the praises to God and the fear of God, for he is majestic and awesome, but also that is as natural as a conversation.

One of my favorite Steven Curtis Chapman songs says, “Just because we say ‘amen’, doesn’t mean this conversation has to end.” I’d go further to say that we don’t even have to say ‘amen’. It’s a formality, but I think, based on the fact that God inspired one writer who recorded Jesus’ teachings on prayer to include it and inspired the other to not, that God cares more about the content and spirit of the prayer than he does about the formalities.

Challenge for Today: Find some time to pray, alone, to God. Praise him, worship him, make your requests known to him…then listen to him. (The part we usually forget in our “one-sided” prayer conversations.) Examine if your prayer is more about the form or the function of the prayer…that is, do you spend more time on formality or repeating a memorized prayer or saying your own “pretty” words? Or do you just say what’s on your heart?