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Proverbs 1:7… The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. (NKJV)
The opening scripture from chapter 1 of the Book of Proverbs was written by the wise Solomon, who has been attributed to writing much of this teaching Book in the Bible… The Bible states that Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, and wrote over 1,000 songs, in…1 Kings 4:32… And since God made Solomon the wisest man there ever was, or will be (1 Kings 3:10-14), we should pay close attention to his writing…
I had a long conversation with a very good friend of mine the other morning, who called me to share what was going on in their life… They wanted to vent their frustration with how bad family had been treating them…and were playing the “Blame Game” that I just finished writing about a couple of days ago, on 9/09/2013… You can read this days writing by going to www.Godsmanforever.wordpress.com and typing 9/09/2013 into the search window… I suggested that my friend read this day’s writing, as it applied to their life…
I also gave my friend some other godly wisdom that I believe would help tremendously with their family situation… They told me that they speak to God all the time…so as a Christian speaking to a fellow Christian, I told them what I believe Jesus clearly teaches us that He would have done in their situation… What better advice could I give my friend, right ??
In my Q/T reading shortly after speaking with my friend, I read the first part of Proverbs chapter 1, which included the opening scripture… I also read this, in…Proverbs 1:5… A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, (NKJV)
This was my first piece of scripture that started me thinking about my friends situation… When I later read the following scripture penned by Solomon’s father David…I was led to write about my friend’s situation, to help anyone “with eyes to see, and ears to hear”… David writes this, in…Psalm 25:9-10… The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. (NKJV)
I realized after reading this scripture, that here-in lies the problem with my good friend… As I was trying to explain to them that living for God first is the only way they will ever find God given peace and joy in their life…they told me that they knew this… But in the same breath, they told me…”BUT, I want to do things my way !!” “Living God’s way may work for you”, they said… “But I know God loves me, and I want to do what I want to do !!”
My friends, we must all try to understand that God’s way is the only way we can live a life that will be pleasing to Him… As Christians, we will never be sinless… We will never be able to live a life for Christ, without failing Him on a regular basis… But unless we get rid of the false idea that we can live the way we want to live…and still remain righteous in God’s eyes…we will never find the God given peace beyond our mortal understanding…Philippians 4:7-8… And we will never see the joy that the Lord wants to will fill us with, unless we are walking with the Lord as a Spirit filled Christian…John 15:11…&…Jude 1:24…
My notes written by John MacArthur for the opening scripture, indicate that he believes this verse 7 was speaking to unbelievers… While I don’t believe my friend is a non-believer…I do believe that they are being misled about what God requires of His children to please Him… John MacArthur tells us to note this progression…and I quote…”1) teaching about God…2) learning about God…3) fearing God…4) knowing God…and 5) imitating God’s wisdom”…
Mr. MacArthur then states…”The fear of the Lord is a state of mind in which one’s own attitudes, will, feelings, deeds, and goals are exchanged for God’s” – end quote…
Friends we cannot live in the world, doing what the world does as what we want to do…and consider that we are a good person that the Lord will be happy with… Our self-seeking will, and what we want to do…must be replaced (like John MacArthur states) with a desire to please the Lord by doing our best to live in God’s will and God’s ways… Anything less than this, and we will only be deceiving ourselves that God will be happy with our lives… And if God is not happy with what He sees in our lives…God will chastise and maybe even scourge the one’s He loves, to bring them back under His wing as His obedient child…
The writer of Hebrews does an excellent job of writing about God’s tough love for His wayward children, in...Hebrews 12:5-11… Here is the link for this scripture for those who choose to learn what God, through His inerrant Word is trying to teach us… http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=heb12:5-11&version=NKJV
Heavenly Father, I pray that Your Word would cut right to the very core of the soul of those who are being deceived about how to please You with their actions and their deeds…
Hebrews 4:12-13… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom wemust giveaccount. (NKJV)
Help all of us Lord, to see the truth from Your Word… Help each and every one of us to strive to please You with our actions and our deeds… Help us Lord, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ each and every day…Romans 13:14… I pray for this fullness of Christ in all of our lives, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
Blessings in Christ, bruce r mills
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