ARE YOU HUNGRY? FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND BE FILLED

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Proverbs 10:3, 13:25

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

NOTE: From Proverbs, Chapter 10 through Chapter 22:16, Solomon writes a series of individual proverbs for us to consider. I will try and group similar proverbs in my devotions as I cover what Solomon wrote over these chapters.

I have a few questions for you:

Why do you read the Bible?

What is it about the book that draws you to it?

My hope is that you read the Bible and crave God’s word because you seek to be fulfilled in some way spiritually, that you might be spiritually fed to maintain spiritual health.

Note this word from Jesus to Satan in response to the first attempted temptation in Matthew, Chapter 4. Quoting words that were spoken by Moses, Jesus said:

“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

The word of God is as vital to our spiritual health as food is to our physical sustenance. If you don’t believe this then let me frame it up for you.

No one in their right mind would only eat once a week. It would be crazy, right? Surely it would lead to major health issues before long. I mean, how could someone even function properly without nourishment?

And so we eat and we eat regularly. We’re almost obsessed at time with our food. We crave it and can’t wait to get a taste of it.

If only it were that way spiritually.

For Jesus tells us that we can’t live on bread alone. If we think food is enough, we’re mistaken. For we only truly live through the word of God and that word is found in the scriptures. And yet, so many people go to church on Sunday, open the Bible, hear and read a scripture passage, and then go home, never opening another Bible until they return to church the following Sunday.

Maybe I’m talking about you.

This practice is akin to spiritually starving yourself and it’s just as dangerous as not eating physically. For know our enemy Satan is looking for anyone who is weak and vulnerable spiritually so he might attack them and drag them away from righteousness and into sinfulness. It’s little wonder that Paul described our main means of defense against Satan as being the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17b). Without the word of the Lord, we’re not just starving spiritually but we’re defenseless against Satan’s attack as well.

It’s little wonder then why when Jesus taught us to pray, He included that we should ask God to give us our daily bread. He wasn’t just telling us to ask for food on our plates. No, it was far more than that for we need to also petition for spiritual nourishing, for something to fill our heart and mind and soul. We need to hunger for righteousness.

Friends, that’s what we find each and every time we study the word of God through the Bible. We seek and find righteousness, the way that we are to live through the One who is THE Way and THE Truth and THE Life (John 14:6), the only One who can guide us as Christians because He (Jesus) is the One we are to model ourselves after. Jesus promised us that we would find satisfaction each and every time we looked for the right way to live when He said:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

We’re not always pleased when we physically eat. Sometimes we go away disappointed. Sometimes we go away still feeling hungry. Not so when we feed ourselves spiritually from the word of the Lord. For we’ll always come away blessed or happy from our spiritual experience, ever filled and content. Solomon had this to say in the Proverbs, words which reinforce the words of our Savior:

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Proverbs 10:3

The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry. Proverbs 13:25

Indeed, the Lord will never let anyone go away void when they seek Him. No one will be hungry and can eat all they want from the buffet of God’s word, dining on His wisdom and direction until their heart is content. For you always dine on the best spiritual food possible when you dine at the Lord’s table.

So the final questions become:

Are you hungry? I mean, are you spiritually hungry for the word of God and the righteousness it provides?

If so, then come. Come, dine with the Lord, and feed yourself spiritually. Open up your Bible today and every day you’re blessed with and be filled. Know and trust that when you do, you’ll never leave the table disappointed or empty.

Amen. 

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

YOU CAN’T BUY THE BEST THING LIFE OFFERS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. 10:2

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 11:4

Proverbs 10:2, 11:4

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

NOTE: From Proverbs, Chapter 10 through Chapter 22:16, Solomon writes a series of individual proverbs for us to consider. I will try and group similar proverbs in my devotions as I cover what Solomon wrote over these chapters.

What do you consider treasure?

The words of Jesus as He taught during His Sermon on the Mount should resonate in our hearts and minds as we ponder that question. Here’s what He had to say:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.”

This is completely contrary to what the world proposes one should do. The world would want us to chase after all it has to give and there is no shortage of tempting offers we find there. We chase after money because it brings us purchasing power and purchasing power allows us to drink up the material offerings available. The more we get, the more we want so much so that we never find ourselves satisfied in our pursuit of material gain and the status it brings us. It’s like a drug we can’t get enough of.

But there’s a problem with the pursuit of wealth and the treasures of the earth. Jesus tells us that they are not everlasting and prone to destruction, wasting away, or theft. I think about the things people chase after today and we see this true. Cars do not last but accumulate miles until they begin to break down and eventually stop working at all. Homes age as well and become less and less attractive in light of the newer homes being built, homes that call out for new owners and beckon for people to leave where they are and move in. Electronic gadgetry is only as good as the in-thing. Newer computers, newer televisions, newer cell phones, and newer video gaming systems are coming out all the time and it seems that no one can be satisfied with what they have. The urge to upgrade is ever present and a majority of the people are seduced into it.

Yes, we are so bent in the treasures of the world that we forget one important thing. None of them will be able to go with us when we die. Not one of them can grant us the opportunity to live forever.

The wise king Solomon had this to say in his writings in the Book of Ecclesiastes:

Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. Ecclesiastes 5:15

You may have heard the old worldly saying, “You can’t take it with you.” Solomon said it first.

He also had this to say in our verses from Proverbs:

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

This takes the matter of wealth and worldly treasures to a new level. For nothing we can buy here on earth can deliver us from death. None of it has lasting value and it loses all worth when our last breath is gone. The treasures on earth are left behind to others who will do what they choose with them. You will have no say in the matters of your wealth or possessions anymore. That’s a fact and a fact that could be pretty depressing if that was all there was to life.

Thank goodness we have Jesus who offers us the best thing in life – and it can’t be purchased.

For through our belief and trust in Jesus, we receive a part of an inheritance that is not of earth but only of heaven above now and forever. We find our way to eternal life with the God who created us and His Son who He surrendered to save us. He loved us that much, that He would sacrifice His greatest treasure, His only Son, so we might have a chance to live forever.

Yes, treasures of this earth will fade, spoil, and waste away but the treasure of heaven we find in salvation endures forever. But we gain something more than eternal life when we turn to Jesus.

We gain righteousness, another treasure of heaven. For as we await that day when God calls us home to be with Him, to return to the One who made us in the first place, we have much to do in this temporary, worldly life. For the Lord has a will and way for each of us and expects us to pursue it. We do that by having a daily, committed relationship with Him, a relationship where we seek His guidance and direction to live right, to embody righteousness in all we do.

It’s that very righteousness that helps us grow in Spirit and in truth through Christ and the Holy Spirit He instructs us through, the One who proclaimed and always proves that He is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Follow Him and His ways and you will always be living in righteousness, in a way that is pleasing to God the Father.

Friends, my prayer for you today is that you are investing more of your time and energy on Jesus than you are of the world and all its trappings. For through Christ, and through Christ alone, we gain the best that this life can offer – and it doesn’t cost us a cent.

Amen. 

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

THE WISE HONOR THEIR FATHER AND MOTHER

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 10:1

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. 13:1

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 15:20

Proverbs 10:1, 13:1, 15:20

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

NOTE: From Proverbs, Chapter 10 through Chapter 22:16, Solomon writes a series of individual proverbs for us to consider. I will try and group similar proverbs in my devotions as I cover what Solomon wrote over these chapters.

Most everyone is familiar with the Ten Commandments, even those who do not claim to be believers. You’ll recall that these commandments were passed onto Moses from God on Mount Sinai for delivery to the Israelite people, a primer for the behavior the Lord expected from the people He created.

Those commandments, although mandated more than 2,000 years ago, are still valid today. God expects His creation to obey them as they are designed to keep His people from the very sin He despises. Indeed, those who follow His commands will always be in good favor with Him and thus can be considered wise. Let’s review those commandments now:

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.”

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

“You shall not murder.”

“You shall not commit adultery.”

“You shall not steal.”

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:3-17

When the people of Israel received these commandments, scripture tells us that they were terrified and said:

“Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Exodus 20:19

Such was the convicting nature of the word of God on His people. Such was the respect and reverence they had for their Lord. If the fear of the Lord was the beginning of wisdom, then the people were becoming wise and it was revealed through their words. Moses sought to put them at ease by saying:

“Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” Exodus 20:20

God’s word had tested the very hearts of His Israelite listeners. They had heard His commands and their fear indicated that they been convicted, perhaps because their past transgressions had been exposed and they were concerned about God’s judgment. Read the word of God regularly and you will have a healthy fear of the Lord as well, a Lord who will judge everyone.

Moses’ words sought to put the people at ease to a point, instructing the people that God was testing them through His commandments, seeking to place the fear of the Lord within them so they would turn from sin and instead seek righteousness. These are the people that we have seen in Proverbs as being deemed as wise.

Yes, the God’s ten commandments are still in play and my focus today is on the fifth commandment using several proverbs from Solomon. The commandment is simple:

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

God’s word is clear. All children are to honor their father and mother, turning away from anything that would bring them disgrace or shame. Keep in mind that this applies to us for as long as we live. I think some adult children seem to forget this I think after they get out on their own and they shouldn’t because the Lord attaches the blessing of long life to obedience to His command to honor parents.

So what did Solomon have to say regarding this matter of children and their parents? Take a look at these three proverbs:

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 10:1

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. 13:1

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. 15:20

Note that wisdom is attached to obedience to God’s fifth commandment. Those who choose to honor their father and mother and heed their instruction are wise. They are the ones who will reap the benefits of long life that God promises.

Conversely, those who choose to disobey God’s command to honor their parents are fools. They are the ones who bring grief to those who bore and raised them, the ones who reject their parent’s guidance and direction, those who act in a way that shows they loathe the very people God placed them with.

Friends, the word of God is clear. We are to honor our father and mother, and in doing so be counted among the wise.

As the Lord looks into your life, what attitude does He see in this regard?

Amen. 

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

HOW TO KNOW YOU ARE WISE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Proverbs 9:7-12

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Over the last four devotions, we have got to know divine wisdom who is always calling out for us to develop a relationship, assuring us that when we seek it we will find it and the many benefits it brings.

So what happens afterwards? How can we know that our relationship is bearing fruit and we are becoming wise?

The middles verses of Proverbs, Chapter 9, give us the answers through the following indicators:

1. You’ll know you are wise when you can discern the right times to rebuke.

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

The NIV translation that I use most often uses the word mocker but other translations can give us a better understanding of what Solomon is getting at here. Here are the other interpretations of the word as used:

King James, English Standard Version – scorner, wicked man

New Revised Standard Version – scoffer, wicked

Good News Translation – conceited, evil

New Living Translation – mocker, wicked

The point Solomon is trying to make is that those who wickedly mock, scorn, and scoff at the Lord with malice and evil intent are not going to receive your rebuke with gladness. Instead, they will offer insult, abuse, and hatred. They hold no love for the Lord in their heart and this will translate over to lacking love for anyone who comes in His name.

On one area that I post this blog, there are several atheists who choose to post as well. They seem to take great pleasure in mocking the Lord and anyone who believes in Him, ever trying to lure someone into debate with them so they can insult and scoff at them as well. You know when you’re wise because you will avoid senseless deliberation about the Lord, His existence, and what He has done, is doing, and is yet to do. The mocker has no interest in changing their views. They’re only interested in abusing the one who is standing up for the same Lord they hate. The Lord is God, the Maker of Heaven and earth, the Father of all to include our Savior Jesus Christ, the only One through which we can be saved, the only One who can get us to life eternal with Him and God the Father. It’s plain and simple and not up for question. Share it with others as Jesus prescribed and if they don’t accept it, move on. Jesus put it this way when He sent His disciples out to heal, lead people to repentance, and spread the good news:

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to Him, He began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” Mark 6:6b-11

Jesus didn’t want His disciples delayed in the process of carrying out His will and way. If the good news was shared and people weren’t willing to listen, then the disciples were to move on and find someone who would listen. Wise discernment, granted to us from the Holy Spirit, will ensure we only rebuke and correct those who are willing to receive it, those who will be grateful for our efforts and show us their appreciation through love.

2. You’ll know you are wise when you are able to teach the wise and the righteous.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

I remember when I first began teaching adults on Sundays. I was a little intimidated as I respected the degree of Bible knowledge and life application experience in the room. There were many men and women who had lived a lot longer than I had, that’s for sure, and had spent much of that time as students of the Bible. The seeds of doubt would try to creep in regularly, convincing me that I was out of my league.

But then something awesome happened. As I prepared my lessons, I had an epiphany. Why was I worrying about teaching adults? For it wasn’t really me teaching if I was approaching it right (and I was). No, it was the Lord teaching through me. I was just an extension of Him, a vessel He filled with His wisdom and guidance, a mouthpiece through which He spoke.

That day, I recognized that I was wise well beyond my years because of the Lord being in my heart, mind, and soul, and I could, through Him, instruct the wise to make them wiser still and teach the righteous so they might add to their learning.

Never underestimate that the Lord can’t do the same with you.

3. You’ll know you’re wise when you have developed a fear of the Lord and a thirst for knowing Him more.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

I don’t know about you but I can’t get enough of the Lord in my life. There is nothing that can compare to Him, nothing that can give you anywhere near the return on your time investment than what you reap when you invest it in Him.

Only a fool, or one who is unwise, would choose to not show the Lord Almighty the respect, honor, and glory that He and He alone is entitled to. And the fool is anyone who chooses to not relate to the Lord and get to know Him.

I’m glad to not be counted in that number and pray you’re not as well.

4. You’ll know you are wise when you invest yourself in divine wisdom and reap the benefits of healthy spiritual living.  

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

I’ve often been asked how I could have little to no gray hair even though I served in the military for twenty-eight and a half years, have been married more than twenty years, and raised two children into adulthood.

My response is always centered on the power and peace that comes when you dedicate yourself to the Lord spiritually and make it a daily commitment. Every day you commune with the Lord Almighty, the Maker and Creator of all things, you become stronger in faith and your ability to successfully handle with the pressures that life inevitably brings. You see how fortunate you are to have such a powerful God with you, ever interceding for you, ever watching over you, and ever loving you as His own.

When you are wise enough to devote yourself to Him as much as He is devoted to you, then you will develop this simple life attitude – “I am too blessed to be stressed” – and this attitude will serve you well in extending the gift of life that the Lord has granted you, a life that He wishes for you to have in abundance.

How is your spiritual health? If it’s poor or non-existent, I can almost bet that your physical health is being impacted and in a negative way. My prayer is that if you need to improve your relationship with the Lord, you’ll make the wise decision to do so today, making it part of your daily discipline. There is no doubt in my mind that if you do, you will begin to feel better, both spiritually and physically, and will be taking deliberate steps to try and ensure years will be added to your life.

5. You’ll know you are wise when you are experiencing the rich rewards that come with being so.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

The scriptures are clear here.

Pursue, embrace, and receive divine wisdom and you will reap the rewards of doing so. Choose to not do so, and you will experience suffering for opting against wisdom is opting for sin, and God will not tolerate those who shun Him in favor of transgression.

You will never be left void of blessing when you seek divine wisdom for the Lord will always fill you with the Holy Spirit who will ever lead you in the ways of righteousness. The riches you gain from this are abundant and priceless.

Friends, this is a great word of the Lord for it calls us to assess where we are in life and how well we grade out on the wisdom scale. I think it’s also incredibly valuable in that it exposes the places where we may need to improve on our wisdom and we all need it. No one is perfectly wise except the Lord who willingly imparts discernment on those who seek His will and way. The rest of us are works in progress, ever striving to be a little wiser today than we were yesterday.

Thanks be to God for the chance to live and love and grow through every day He blesses us with. And let’s give additional praise for a God who chooses to walk alongside us, a God who is always with us, guiding, protecting, and loving us every step of the way.

Amen. 

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

Send any prayer requests to ourchristianwalk@aol.com