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Under Gods Command Proverbs 17:9 – He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

This proverb is saying that we should be willing to forgive others’ sins against us. Covering over offenses is necessary to any relationship. It is tempting, especially in an argument, to bring up all the mistakes the other person has ever made. Love however, keeps its mouth shut-difficult though that may be. Try never to bring anything into an argument that is unrelated to the topic being discussed. As we grow to be like Christ, we will acquire God’s ability to forget the confessed sins of the past.


Under Gods Command
Lamentations 2:19 – Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.

The people’s suffering and sin should have brought them to the Lord, weeping for forgiveness. Only when our prideful, independent hearts are broken over sin can God come to our rescue. Just feeling sorry about experiencing sin’s consequences does not bring forgiveness. But if we cry out to God in repentance, he will forgive us.


Under Gods Command

Lamentations 2:19 – Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.  Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street. 

 The people’s suffering and sin should have brought them to the Lord, weeping for forgiveness.  Only when our prideful, independent hearts are broken over sin can God come to our rescue.  Just feeling sorry about experiencing sin’s consequences does not bring forgiveness.  But if we cry out to God in repentance, he will forgive us.


 Under Gods Command:  Proverbs 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

There are different ways to fail to commit whatever we do to the LORD.

• Some people commit their work only superficially. They say the project is being done for the LORD, but in reality they are doing it for themselves.
• Others give God temporary control of their interest, only to take control back the moment things stop going the way they expect.
• Still others commit a task fully to the LORD, but put forth no effort themselves, and then they wonder why they do not succeed.

We must maintain a delicate balance: trusting God as if everything depended on him, while working as if everything depended on us. Think of a specific effort in which you are involved right now. Have you committed it to the LORD?


Under Gods Command

Lamentations 1:14 – My sins have been bound into a yoke, by his hands they were woven together. They have come upon my neck and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has handed me over to those I cannot withstand.

At first, sin seems to offer freedom. But the liberty to do anything we want gradually becomes a desire to do everything. Then we become captive to sin, bound by its “yoke.” Freedom from sin’s captivity comes only form God. He gives us freedom, not to do anything we want, but to what he knows is best for us. Strange as it may seem, true freedom comes in obeying God-following his guidance so that we can receive his best.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 14:09 Fool mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

How rarely we find goodwill around us today. Angry drivers scowl at each other in the streets. People fight to be first in line. Disgruntled employers and employees both demand their rights. But the common bond of God’s people should be goodwill. Those with goodwill think the best of others and assume that others have good motives and intend to do what is right. When someone crosses you, and you feel your blood pressure rising, ask yourself, “How can I show goodwill to this person?”


Under Gods Command

Lamentations 1:9 – Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future.  Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her.  “Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.”

 The warning was loud and clear: If Judah played with fire, its people would get burned.  Jerusalem foolishly took a chance and lost, refusing to believe that immoral living brings God’s punishment.  The ultimate consequence of sin is punishment (Romans 6:23).  We can choose to ignore God’s warnings, but as surely as judgment came upon Jerusalem, so will it come upon those who defy God.  Are you listening to God’s Word? Are you obeying it? Obedience is a sure sign of your love for God.


Under Gods Command

 Proverbs 11:09 With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape.   

 The mouth can be used either as a weapon or a tool, hurting relationships or building them up.  Sadly, it is often easier to destroy than to build, and most people have received more destructive comments than those that build up.  Every person you meet today is either a demolition site or a construction opportunity. Your words will make a difference.  Will they be weapons for destruction or tool for construction?


Under Gods Command

Jeremiah 52:34  Day by day the King of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.   

 In the world’s eyes Jeremiah looked totally unsuccessful.  He had no money, family, or friends.  He prophesied the destruction of the nation, the capital city, and the temple, but the political and religious leaders would not accept or follow his advice.  No group of people liked him or listened to him.  Yet as we look back, we see that he successfully completed the work God gave him to do.  Success must never be measured by popularity, fame, or fortune, for these are temporal measures.  King Zedekiah, for example, lost everything by pursuing selfish goals.  God measures our success with the yardsticks of obedience, faithfulness, and righteousness.  If you are faithfully doing the work God gives you, you are successful in his eyes.


Under Gods Command

Proverbs 10:18  He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. 

 By hating another person you may become a liar or a fool.  If you try to conceal your hatred, you end up lying.  If you slander the other person and are proven wrong, you are a fool.  The only way out is to admit your hateful feelings to God.  Ask him to change your heart, to help you love instead of hate.