Archive for the ‘Encourgement’ Category


Under Gods Command

Malachi 2:9 So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not followed my ways but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

The priests had allowed influential and favored people to break the law.  The priest were so dependent on these people for support that they could not afford to confront them when they did wrong.

Lets Bring it Home: In your church, are certain people allowed to do wrong without criticism?  There should be no double standard based on wealth or position, Let your standards be those presented in God’s Word.  Playing favorites is contemptible in God’s sight (see James 2:1-9).


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

What is casual sex? It is the way to hell! It will take you down to death! There is nothing casual about dying early and going to hell! Someone is lying to you about a fatal danger.

Why do they call it casual sex? Because they do it like hyenas without the love, morality, and commitment of marriage. Inferior to prostitution, it even lacks money compensation!

Why do they call it playing, partying, or having an affair? They feel euphemisms make their sins more acceptable. They hate real words with defined meanings like adultery, fornication, sodomy, or whoremonger, Bible words found in laws of civilized nations.

How casual are death and hell? They are man’s worst nightmares! Reader, the whole world is lying to you about the consequences of sex outside of marriage. Hate their lies! Hate their lifestyles! Hate their movies and music! God and Solomon have warned you.

The feminine pronoun “her” is the strange woman, the adulteress and whore of the parable here (Pr 7:6-23). After introducing the subject of sexual sins to his son (Pr 7:1-5), Solomon described at length a young man seduced into adultery by a cunning woman. He then concluded by begging his children to consider the terrible danger (Pr 7:24-27).

He warned his children that whorish women have wounded many men and destroyed many strong men (Pr 7:26). Think Samson and his horrible end. Think David and the painful consequences for adultery with Bathsheba. Think Solomon! Only the strongest men, like Joseph, can resist the powerful seduction of the adulteress (Pr 23:27-28).

What is the cure? Do not think about her (Pr 7:25)! Do not go near her (Pr 7:25)! Sexual sins begin with the eyes (Pr 6:25; Matt 5:28), form a plan in the mind (Job 31:1; II Sam 13:1-2), and then pursue the action (Pr 5:8; 7:8). All sin works this way (Jas 1:13-16). The adulteress cannot entice or hurt you, if you never think about her or get near her.

Can adultery kill you? Yes! Think capital punishment (in a moral nation), her jealous spouse, your jealous spouse, sexual diseases, blinded judgment, suicide from guilt, etc.

Can adultery kill you? Yes! There are other ways to die. Think of a destroyed soul, ruined reputation, lost job, wasted money, violated marriage, offended children, illegitimate children, painful guilt, sexual bondage, hated memories, and other living deaths! Even the world knows to blame the wasted and worn-out look of sinners on their hard living!

Can adultery take you to hell? Yes! If hell is the grave, the place where the dead are buried, it can take you there, as you just read (Ps 16:10; 18:5; 55:15; 86:13; 116:3).

Can adultery take you to hell? Yes! If hell is the lake of fire, the place of eternal torment, adultery can take you there as well (I Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:3-7; Rev 21:8).

If casual sex is this dangerous, why no public warning about the death and hell behind the eyes, smiles, kisses, and embrace of a seductive woman? Because the devil and the world have conspired together to lie to you, and your sin nature loves to believe their lies.

Why no warning in the news? In the schools? In the military? Because it is not popular in a sin-obsessed and sex-addicted generation, and the guiding principles that now reign are popular approval, political correctness, serving pleasure, and rejecting God and the Bible.

But why no strong warnings in the large popular churches? For the same reasons above, for these worldly churches operate by the same principles – popular approval to keep the crowd coming, political correctness, serving pleasure, and rejecting the God of the Bible.

There is a warning! You are reading it. God and Solomon warned four times in Proverbs about death and hell for casual sex (Pr 2:18-19; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18). Get away from any whorish woman, and stay away from her. And the same applies to male whoremongers.

Does casual sex have pleasure? Sin has pleasure, and the Bible admits it – short pleasure for only a season (Heb 11:24-26; Job 20:5). The pleasure of casual sex lasts seconds, minutes, or hours; but the consequences last years, the rest of your life, or all eternity. There is no comparison. Samson’s minutes with a conniving and gold digging Delilah were not worth his years blind and grinding for the Philistines before committing suicide.

The best sexual pleasure is for a Christian husband and wife following the wisdom of Proverbs and the rest of the Bible. Their God created the male and female bodies, invented sex, and wrote the manual for its ultimate pleasure. If you doubt this, read Solomon’s love song in the Bible. If you have not experienced it yourself, read it again!

Parent, do you warn your children about sexual sins as boldly and plainly as Solomon did his children? Or are you too spiritually minded, puritanical, fearful, or naïve to line up with God and His word, missing the fact that the world hits them harder than any previous generation? If you are a mother, get real like godly women (Pr 6:20-26; 31:1-3).

There is another kind of whore. False churches are called whores in the Bible, and joining their worship is spiritual adultery and fornication (Ex 34:15-16; II Cor 11:1-4; Jas 4:4; Rev 2:20-22; 17:1-6). Get away from them, and stay away, for those that join them end up in the congregation of the dead and then hellfire forever (Pr 21:16; Rev 3:1; 14:9-11).

If your church and pastor do not preach hard against sexual sins, then you need a new church or pastor (Is 58:1; Jer 23:28-29; II Tim 4:3-4; Heb 13:4). It is a sign of the perilous times of the last days that Christians live and sound like the world (II Tim 3:1-5). If your pastor does preach like he should, then encourage him and pray for him.


Under Gods Command

Malachi 2:7-8 “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction-because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.  But you have turned from the way and by your teaching have caused many to stumble, you have violated the covenant with Levi,” says the LORD Almighty. 

Malachi was angry at the priests because, though they were to be God’s messengers, they did not know God’s will.  And this lack of knowledge caused them to lead God’s people astray.  Their ignorance was willful and inexcusable.

Lets Bring it Home: Pastors and leaders of God’s people must know God’s Word-what it says, what It means, and how it applies to daily life.  How much time do you spend in God’s Word?


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 6:17: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

God hates seven things, and here are three (Pr 6:16-19). Solomon had just written, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:” (Pr 6:16). For success and wisdom in your life, you must get any aspect of these sins out of your life.

Pride, lying, and murder are accepted today (keep on reading), but they are an abomination to the LORD. He has not changed; He will never change. If you want the God of the Bible against you, allow one or more of these sins in your life (Ps 47:2; 66:3-5; 68:35; 99:3). If you want Him for you with blessing and favor, then hate these sins.

Corrupt societies try to outlaw hatred, but God still hates sin and sinners (Ps 5:5; 11:5; Mal 3:6; Heb 13:8). Do not deceive yourself. The God of heaven is not the senile old man painted by Michelangelo for popes and cardinals. He is angry at the wicked every day (Ps 7:11). And He will soon cast His enemies into hell (Ps 9:17; Matt 7:23; Rev 20:11-15).

Before excusing yourself from this proverb, remember three things. First, God hates more than seven sins – He hates all sins and sinners (Ps 5:4-6; 11:4-6). Second, the application is very broad and includes much more than you may think (Ps 119:96; Matt 5:21-22). And third, you will soon give a full account to God about these sins (Eccl 12:13-14).

The right meaning is important, or the self-righteous try to escape (Neh 8:8). When the Bible condemns a proud look, a lying tongue, and murdering hands, it intends more than a sinful face, speech, or actions. It includes every associated sin that would fall under that general category. For example, a lying email without spoken words is also condemned.

The LORD hates a proud look! He cannot stand any kind of pride in angels or men. He cast Satan and his angels out of heaven for pride (Is 14:12-15; I Tim 3:6; Jude 1:6). He hates self-esteem, strife, haughty thoughts, self-promotion, proud anger, an irreligious life, selfishness, boasting, conceited eyes, and stubbornness among other sins (Pr 13:10; 14:3; 21:24; 25:27; 26:16; 30:17; Ps 10:2-6; Is 2:11-12; Rom 12:3; Gal 6:3; II Tim 3:1-5).

The LORD hates a lying tongue! He loves truth, and He hates all deception. The devil is the father of lies, and his children are just like him (John 8:44; Eph 2:1-3). Liars are going to hell (Rev 21:8; 22:15). God hates exaggeration, fraud, misrepresentation, false witnessing, slander, haggling, flattery, silence under oath, and jesting among other sins of lying (Pr 10:18; 12:22; 19:5; 20:14,23; 26:18-19,28; Ex 23:1; Deut 19:16-21; Job 17:5).

The LORD hates murderous hands! He loves life, for He is the living God, and He gives life and breath to all (Gen 2:7; Is 42:5; Acts 17:25). Life is sacred, not because man is special, but because God created it and defends it. He demands capital punishment for murder (Gen 9:6), and anyone disagreeing is a fool. The devil was a murderer from the beginning, and so are his children, who are all going to hell (John 8:44; Rev 21:8; 22:15).

God hates abortion, backbiting, bitterness, debate, envy, grudges, malice, manslaughter, negligent homicide, strife, foolish anger, neglecting child discipline, railing, foolish killing of animals, ignoring cries for help, lack of mercy, wrath, withholding capital punishment, and talebearing as other sins of murder (Pr 12:20; 13:24; 22:6-7; 23:13-14; 31:8-9; Ex 21:22-25,28-29; Deut 22:6-8; Matt 5:21-26; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 4:31-32).

God’s word is to be interpreted and applied broadly (Matt 5:27-32; Luke 10:29-37). Its demands go far beyond the limitations your heart wishes were on them. These are things God hates, and yet they are hardly preached against today. Seeker sensitive types want you to think all is well. But you can see there might be one or two sins that condemn you! You need to get them out of your life and then teach these things to your children.

Is it fair to say pride is accepted today? Definitely! Psychologists, educators, and pastors exalt self-esteem, self-love, and self-confidence as cures for most relational problems, which are nothing more than psycho-babble terms for a naïve, selfish adoration of self. This is just one example of pride being accepted today. True Christianity is the opposite – the love of others over self (Matt 22:39; Rom 12:10; Eph 5:21; Phil 2:3-4; II Tim 3:1-2)!

Is it fair to say lying is accepted today? Definitely! Politicians make promises they have not calculated or never intend to keep. If caught in a moral or political error, they will spin words to avoid guilt. Legalese is a term sometimes used to describe lawyers playing with words (Luke 10:29). Have you ever haggled with a seller by pointing out flaws in the merchandise and then later boasted about getting the item at a low price (Pr 20:14)?

Is it fair to say murder is accepted today? Definitely! Anger or name-calling without a righteous cause is murder (Matt 5:21-22). Any abortion for any cause is murder (Ex 21:22-25). If strict child discipline can save them from an untimely death, then its neglect is a form of murder (Pr 23:13-14). Backbiting, talebearing, and whispering are means of destroying another’s reputation, which is a form of taking a life (Pr 18:8; 26:22; 12:18).

Reader! You are condemned! David put it this way, “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (Ps 130:3.) Even David, God’s favorite, knew He was in trouble if God held his sins against him. If God marked and recorded all sins, then every man is doomed to eternal judgment. And He does just that. He will show you every violation of this proverb in a day fast approaching (Eccl 12:13-14; Rev 20:11-15).

But that is not the end of the story, for David wrote next, “But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared” (Ps 130:4). Without forgiveness, God would be unapproachable; but there is mercy for those that call upon Him, which only the elect will ever do (John 3:19; 5:40; 6:44; 8:45). Faith is the result of predestination (Acts 13:48), for man by nature has only disgust and rebellion for the gospel (I Cor 1:18-24; 2:14).

God chose to forgive His elect before the world began by ordaining Jesus Christ to die as a substitute for them (Jn 6:38-39; 10:26-29; 17:2; Rom 5:6-21; 8:29-39; Eph 1:3-11; I Pet 1:20). God owes mercy and love to none; He gives it only to those He chooses (Ex 33:19; Rom 9:15). If you love Him, He loved you first (I John 4:19). By hating these three sins for His sake, your virtuous life by faith proves your election (II Pet 1:5-11; Ps 15:1-5).


Under Gods Command

Malachi 2:1-2 “And now this admonition is for you, O priest.  If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you and I will curse your blessings.  Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me. 

God warned the priests that if they did not honor his name, he would punish them.

Lets Bring it Home: Like these priest, we too are called to honor God’s name-to worship him.  This means acknowledging God for who he is-the almighty Creator of the universe who alone is perfect and who reached down to sinful mankind with perfect love.  According to this definition, are you honoring Gods’ name?

The priests didn’t take seriously (set their hearts to) God’s priority, even though he had reminded them through his word many times.  How do you find out what is most important to God?  Begin by loving him with all your heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).  This means listening to what God says in his Word and then setting your heart, mind, and will on doing what he says.  When we love God, his Word becomes a shining light that guides our daily activities, The priest in Malachi’s day had stopped loving God, and thus they did not know nor care what he wanted.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 5:14 – I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”    

Are you a hypocrite? God and King Solomon send you a warning to keep you back from this great sin you will have to explain in the Day of Judgment (Eccl 12:13-14). They want you to take good advantage of attending church rather than it becoming an additional sin.

Are you a sexual hypocrite? Do you attend public worship of God while guilty of sexual sins or while allowing sexual fantasies against God’s laws for love, marriage, and sex? Sexual sinners will cry in this life and the next for having committed such a crime.

Hypocrite! Holding sins while pretending to worship. Hypocrite! Privately loving sin and publicly honoring religion. Hypocrite! Singing and praying with lips, while savoring lusts in the heart. Hypocrite! Visiting a holy God with an unholy soul. Hypocrite! Knowing God yet allowing the very sins He hates. The soul pain of a religious fornicator is great!

Scorner! Do you come into the house of God, where He is exalted and praised, and where His laws are read and explained, and then go your way to continue in sexual sins, either of the mind or body? You are a fool and scorner! You mock your Creator and teachers to keep your favorite sexual fantasies or activities. This error will come back to haunt you.

God burned up Nadab and Abihu, though His chosen priests, for using new incense in His worship (Lev 10:1-2). God killed Uzzah for touching the Ark when it shook in transit (II Sam 6:6-7). God gave King Uzziah leprosy in his face for thinking he could perform a priestly function (II Chr 26:16-21). Yet you go into God’s church with secret sexual sins!

Solomon in this chapter warned his son and children of the sin of adultery (Pr 5:1-2,7). By the desirable, and seemingly innocent, enticement of a strange woman (Pr 5:3), a foolish man is brought down to destruction and misery (Pr 5:4-10). When the sin has worked its course, he cannot believe his folly at rejecting the warnings (Pr 5:11-13). In the words before you, he admitted one of the greatest agonies of all – religious hypocrisy!

In the place where men go for comfort and peace – the church, he was tortured with fear, guilt, and shame. Knowing God and His hatred for sin pounding his conscience, he tried to worship, while addicted to his enslaving sin (Pr 5:22). The internal conflict was great – his new man crying against the old – the Spirit convicting against the lustful thoughts of the devil. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

At times, a sinning saint might wish he had not known the way of truth. Worldlings have no such pains. They sin with abandon. Their conscience is so seared as to be quite silent. The sinning saint knows such deadness is that of an atheist, which he cannot be, no matter how hard he might try. The praise of the righteous, the joy of the faithful, and the reading of Scripture are goading pains. This is the agony of a religious hypocrite!

How did it begin? Playing with a small attractive sin! He allowed exposure to the most alluring temptation for a man – another woman. Her flattery enticed him (Pr 5:3). Then his lusts had the idea that taking her offer of intimacy would bring great pleasure (Jas 1:14-15). But as quickly as the thought of pleasure came, it disappeared just as quickly, after he had damned his soul with the hated act. His conscience was now condemned!

How will he excuse his sin to God? How! He had been privileged in life to have a church where the truth was taught and godly virtue exalted, including sexual purity and integrity. But in spite of the blessed privilege, he had allowed and indulged his pet sexual sins. Now his conscience chases and tortures him – reminding him of countless warnings that he ignored and squandered. Soon he must explain his folly to the dread Judge of all.

Reader, keep your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23). God hates hypocrisy. He wants your heart, all of it. He does not care about your lips, if your heart is not all His first. He does not care about your attendance, if you think approvingly about sin. Men who pray in public with eyes full of adultery are marked for the darker regions of hell (II Pet 2:13-19). God seeks the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart (Ps 51:17). Forsake your sins!

Any lukewarm approach to religion, in public or private, is repulsive to God. He would rather have you cold than lukewarm (Rev 3:14-15). Jesus Christ will spew you out of His mouth for being lukewarm (Rev 3:16). He rebuked Ephesus for having lost their first love (Rev 2:1-5). Hate your lukewarm heart. Hate your self-righteousness, just because you may not be guilty of any sexual sins. Do not despise others while you are a sinner.

Use God’s assemblies to humbly hear His word to condemn the sins in your life (Jas 1:21-25). Go into the house of God to be corrected (Ps 63:1-2; 73:16-22). If your pastor does not condemn sin plainly and powerfully from scripture, you need a new pastor or church (Is 58:1; Jer 23:28-29; Matt 5:19-20; II Tim 4:3-4). Do not drag in. Prepare. Pray. Participate. You will answer to God for every assembly you were privileged to attend.

Self-righteous woman! Have you read this warning with disdain for such foolish men and with joy at the tormenting consequences of their sin? Your wickedness is worse, for you have no conscience, nor is there much hope of your recovery. You have already drowned in the self-flattering deceit and pride of your wicked heart and simple mind. If you can find even a twinge of conscience, confess your arrogant presumption before it is gone.

Monogamous man and loyal woman! Do not think you escape the warning. Hypocrisy can occur with any sin – and all are equal to God. Neglecting or defrauding a spouse is like adultery. You owe your spouse great sex, whenever, however, and wherever they like it (I Cor 7:1-5; Pr 5:19). Backbiting and whispering are variations on murder. James warned that one sin is guilt of all before God (Jas 2:10). Any hypocrisy is a horrible sin.

This proverb has warned young men. You will face this horrible agony and misery of conscience, if you play at all with whorish women, whether by pictures, words, activities, or thoughts. Get away from them! There is no greater temptation than the strange woman, and she will take you all the way down to death and hell (Pr 2:18; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18).

However, God is merciful to the repentant (II Sam 12:13; Matt 21:31-32). At His right hand sits the Lord Jesus Christ, the great and only High Priest of the Christian religion (Heb 3:1; 8:1). He was tempted to sin, including sexual sins, just like other men (Heb 2:17-28; 4:15-16; 5:1-6), but He never sinned. He can and will intercede for you to God.

Hypocrite, have you learned it is hard to repent? Have you learned you cannot break the bondage of sexual addiction (Pr 5:22-23)? Only if God possibly gives you repentance can you be delivered from the devil (II Tim 2:25-26). What can you do? Run from your lusts (Pr 5:8; II Tim 2:22)! Run to Christ (Luke 7:36-50)! Beg God for mercy (Luke 18:9-14)!


Under Gods Command

Malachi 1:11-13 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun.  In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my will be great among the nations, “says the LORD Almighty.  “But you profane it by saying of the Lord’s table, ‘It is defiled, ‘ and of its food, ‘It is contemptible, And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the LORD Almighty. 

Worship was a “burden” to these priests.  Too many think that following God is supposed to make life easy and more comfortable.  They are looking for a God of convenience.  The truth is that it often takes hard work to live by God’s high standards.

Lets Bring it Home: He may call us to face poverty or suffering. But if serving God is more important to us than anything else, what we must give up is of little importance compared to what we gain- eternal life with God


Under Gods Command 

Proverbs 2:03  and if you call out for insight, and cry aloud for understanding,      

Do you pray for wisdom? It is the ability of good judgment, so you can know what to do in any situation. The true and living God has all wisdom, and He gives it to those who ask. Greatness and success before God and men was never so easy. What hinders you?

When did you last pray for wisdom? If you do not ask, He will not give it. You will live ignorantly and foolishly, reaping the painful and negative consequences of such living, all because you were too lazy or too proud to ask. Get over it. Beg for wisdom today.

Do you passionately pray for it? Study may make a scholar, but only prayer will make a great saint. Much reading may increase learning, but only the Spirit’s revelation gives wisdom. If you need wisdom, crave it from your knees; and from your knees beg the God of Solomon. He blessed Solomon above all men, and He can bless you above your peers.

The Preacher, King Solomon, was in the middle of exhorting his son to several duties necessary to gaining wisdom (Pr 2:1-9). This verse exhorted him, and exhorts you, to pray fervently for it. Here is no bland request for wisdom, but rather a desperate, passionate, and zealous cry for it. Cry out for it! Lift up your voice for it! Get intense!

God chose to operate in certain areas by request only, so James wrote, “Ye have not, because ye ask not” (Jas 4:2). Unless you ask and beg for certain things, God will let you live without them. He has made it easy for you to ask Him, as your Father (Luke 11:9-13).  Could it be that your deficiency in wisdom is due to having seldom prayed for it?

Wisdom is something you should ask for (Jas 1:5). If you want more wisdom, God will hear and answer your request liberally. Glory! What a precious promise! Especially in the light of wisdom’s importance taught in Proverbs.  He will give it liberally and not criticize you for your insistent and frequent requests. You may covet wisdom freely.

But you must ask in faith, fully confident of God’s ability and willingness to help you, or you will receive nothing from Him (Jas 1:6-8). Reject and forget any thoughts to the contrary, just as Abraham ignored all the problems with having a son by Sarah in old age. Without faith it is impossible to please God, the great Giver of wisdom (Heb 11:6).

God offered Solomon any request and greatly blessed his desire for wisdom. He also gave him things he did not request (II Chr 1:7-12). But you have the same heavenly offer! Why do you not request it as he did (Matt 7:7-11; 11:24; 18:19; John 14:13-14)? Daniel also prayed for wisdom and received it liberally (Dan 2:16-19; 5:11; 9:20-23; 10:10-21).

Be bold! Pray for extra wisdom. You will not offend the Giver, Who offered liberally. Elijah was a great prophet. John the Baptist, the greatest man born of a woman, came in his spirit and power (Luke 1:17). Before Elijah was carried into heaven, he offered Elisha any petition. What did he ask? Twice the spirit of Elijah! And he got it (II Kgs 2:9-15)!

This is the simplest way to be great in the sight of God and men – ask God for wisdom! Remember, it is wisdom that crowns a man and brings him honor (Pr 4:5-9). There is nothing in the world to be compared to wisdom (Pr 3:13-18; 8:11; 16:16). It will distinguish you from others and bring rich blessings from God and men in many ways.

Noble men will have holy reasons for seeking wisdom. Consider the psalmist’s prayer for God to give him understanding in the word of God and truth (Ps 119:11,18,26-27,34,73,125). Paul prayed for saints to get wisdom by the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:15-20; Col 1:9-11), and the Holy Spirit is something for which you ought also to pray (Luke 11:13).

If you will not rightly value wisdom and ask God for it, you should tremble before Him, for He may judge you with blindness, as He has most men (Matt 11:25-27; 13:10-17; II Thess 2:9-12; John 9:39-41). There is no shame admitting you are a child in wisdom, like Solomon did and the Lord described, for God will richly bless this spirit of humility.

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature before God and men (Luke 2:52; Matt 13:54). It is certain He prayed for it, for His human nature required God’s blessing of wisdom like yours (Luke 6:12; 9:28; 22:39-45). But His prayers exceeded yours, and God’s blessing exceeded all, so that Jesus could truly say, “A greater than Solomon is here” (Mat 12:42).

When you ask God for wisdom for yourself, remember to ask for other sincere believers that also desire and need wisdom. The Lord Jesus Christ prayed this way for the apostles (John 14:15-17). And Paul repeated the favor for the churches (Eph 1:15-19; Col 1:9-11). If you pray for your family and friends, and they for you, what an increase there will be!


Under Gods Command

Malachi 1:11 My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun.  In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my will be great among the nations, “says the LORD Almighty. 

My name will be great among the nations.  “God had a chosen people, the Jews, through whom he planned to save and bless the entire world.  Today God still wants to save and bless the world through all who believe in him- Jews and Gentiles.

Lets Bring it Home: Christians are now his chosen people, and our pure offering to the Lord is our new life in Christ.  Are you available to God to be used in making his name honored by the nations? This mission begins in our homes and in our neighborhoods, but it doesn’t stop here.  We must work and pray for God’s worldwide mission.


Peace and safety, or fear and destruction? What a difference! Lady Wisdom offers you the good life. It is astounding to see how men’s lives differ by their foolish choices and God’s judgment. Peace and protection are precious – they can be yours starting today.

The choice is yours. God offers you wisdom in His word. If you ignore or reject it, He will laugh and mock when your fear and calamities come, and they both will come; He will desert you and not hear your cries, even when you pray to Him for help (Proverbs 1:24-32).

If you love and exalt wisdom, God will bless you with tranquility. The choice is yours. Consequences for foolishness are hard. Choose wisdom! Nebuchadnezzar heard Daniel’s warning, but he rejected it; he spent seven years out to pasture (Dan 4:27-33). David had God’s peace and safety, and he knew they were better than the world’s best (Ps 4:6-8).

The but that opens the proverb indicates a contrast. Solomon had personified wisdom as a woman (Pr 1:20-23), and his Lady Wisdom had warned men that neglecting her offers would bring horrible pain and suffering (Pr 1:24-32). A wise man spares himself most troubles of life, but fools are punished severely and often (Pr 8:36; 13:15; 22:3).

Tranquility is precious. It is the good life. It is calm, happiness, peace, and safety. It is gotten only one way but through two doors. The one way is wisdom. Only those who fear God and keep His commandments, which is true wisdom, will have tranquility. They find it from two sources – the blessed results of right decisions and God’s supernatural favor.

Consider. If you marry wisely by God’s rules, you will have peace and pleasure with a virtuous woman, while other men suffer with an odious or whorish woman (Pr 12:4; 30:21-23; 31:10-31). By marrying a God-fearing spouse to honor God (Pr 31:30; I Cor 7:39; 11:11), He will bless you further by His divine power (I Sam 2:30; Ps 37:4; 84:11).

Consider. If you train your children God’s way, you will have peace and pleasure with a godly and noble family, while other men suffer the pain of fools and scorners with their last name (Pr 10:1; 15:20; 17:21,25; 29:15). By training them God’s way (Pr 22:6,15; 23:13-14), He will also bless you by favoring them (Ps 112:1-3; 37:26; 25:12-13).

Consider. If you work hard, save consistently, and avoid business or financial scams, you will prosper and succeed, while other men will suffer the painful results of bad career and investment decisions (Pr 13:23; 14:23; 21:20; 28:19). By following God’s rules (Pr 12:24; 27:18; 30:25), He will also bless you supernaturally (Pr 3:9-10; 11:24-28; 19:17).

Wisdom is not difficult. It begins by fearing the Lord (Pr 1:7; 9:10). It ends by keeping His commandments (Pr 3:7; 16:6; Job 28:28; Ps 111:10; 112:1; 119:128; Eccl 12:13). God has revealed perfect knowledge and wisdom in the Bible, and learning and obeying the Bible will bring wisdom to a man or a nation (Deut 4:5-6; Ps 1:1-3; 19:7-11; 144:15).

God gave Solomon tranquility for his answer in a dream (I Kgs 3:5-15). He valued wisdom over money, success, and long life, so God blessed him with honor, peace, and riches. But King Nebuchadnezzar, a rich and very successful king, lost his tranquility and was turned into a beast for continuing in sin (Dan 4:27-33). Reader, the choice is yours.

Here are great promises! Wisdom will give you safety, and it will save you from even the fear of danger. This is ultimate tranquility. No danger in sight, and no fear in your heart or mind. You can walk confidently through life and sleep sweetly at night (Pr 3:21-26). This is the good life, and Lady Wisdom offers it to you from God. The choice is yours.

God kept David in the bundle of life, but He slung out his enemies to death (I Sam 25:29). What a contrast! If you put your trust in the Almighty, He will protect you from every danger and risk that you can or cannot see or hear (Ps 91:1-16). This incredible supernatural blessing follows the righteous through their lives. Embrace wisdom today!

The righteous are bold as a lion due to their confidence (Pr 28:1; Ps 46:1-3). There is perfect peace that passes human understanding for those who fear God and keep His commandments (Pr 14:26; Ps 25:12-13; 112:7; Is 26:3-4; Phil 4:6-7). David knew God had enabled him to defeat all his enemies due to his righteous life (Ps 18:16-26).

David mocked fear; he defeated Goliath without armor (I Sam 17:31-51), and he did not care if an army should declare war against him (Ps 27:1-5). Paul mocked death and the grave through Jesus Christ and endured the greatest hardships cheerfully (I Cor 15:54-58; II Cor 11:23-28). He faced Caesar alone with Jesus beside him (II Tim 4:16-18). All men may take precautions of safety, but God blesses only the righteous (Pr 21:31; Ps 127:1-2).

God saved wise Noah, while He drowned the foolish world around him. And God will save wise men in the coming day of wrath, when He punishes fools with everlasting torment, just as He saved wise Jews from the Roman destruction (Mal 4:1-3; Rom 8:35-39; I Thess 1:10). The wiser you live, the more peace you will have outside and inside (John 14:27; 16:33; I John 4:17-18). What keeps you from embracing wisdom?

Reader, are you hearkening to wisdom today? Are you seeking wisdom? Loving her? And obeying her? Hear God now! “What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth” (Ps 34:12-16).