DISCOVERING THE REVELATION

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In Christ, Mark

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

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

Proverbs 29:18

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

Have you ever had a revelation?

By definition, it’s an enlightening or astonishing disclosure, a secret or surprising fact that is made known (Webster’s).

We typically have these revelations in the learning processes of life. Maybe we learn a new fact about something we weren’t aware of. Perhaps we discover something completely new and more to now plateaus of understanding about the world we live in and how it relates to us and others. Or perhaps our revelation sheds light on our life and the way we’re living in such a way that it facilitates desire to change and become better people or to treat others differently.

It’s this latter form of revelation that I want to focus on in today’s devotion, for the word of God is chocked full of eye-opening revealings intended to lead us on the path of righteousness, the right way of living that He wants us all to follow. Let’s call this divine revelation. 

When we follow the divine revelation offered by the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves living a life that is blessed, a life lived with the happiness of knowing we are living in a way that brings the Lord’s favor.

When we don’t heed divine revelation, or worse, not even seek it, then we will find sin dominating the way we live, our will or the world’s will dictating what we do as we’re drawn to satisfy our own desires vice the desires of the Lord.

These truths are not just some contrived nuggets of insight formed by human intellect. Rather, they are revelations offered to us by the following verse from Proverbs, Chapter 29:

Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18

This verse, when considered carefully and introspectively, opens our eyes and our hearts to the critical importance of heeding the instruction and wisdom God offers, the importance of discovering revelation.

Without it, we live unrestrained. Anything goes. We live with no concern as to the consequences of our actions and we typically have no regard for anything but ourselves and what we want to do. As long as what we do, meets our needs and wants, that’s all that matters.

Conversely, discovering revelation shows us a new way to live as we learn to seek and follow Jesus, the One who is the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). This revelation shows us that there is no leeway for behavior. Rather, we are constrained to behave in every way as Jesus behaved, making His ways our ways. When we do, we become the new creations that Paul wrote about (2 Corinthians 5:17), leaving our past selves behind and springing up new, improved, saved, and yes, blessed through Christ as he touches our lives in every way.

Friends, are you discovering the revelation that the Lord wishes you to have each and every day?

If so, then you should be filled with praise and joy as you commune with Him through His word, through prayer, and through His Holy Spirit, seeking and receiving His divine revelation.

For blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. It was true in the days of Solomon and it’s still true today.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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SIN WILL BE DESTROYED

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In Christ, Mark

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

When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.

Proverbs 29:16

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

Every day, the news seems to bring more and more stories laced with evil doings. Just a look at my local paper today brought these stories:

“Man admits killing boyfriend of stepdaughter.”

“Man given 10 years for stabbing at Va. Beach restaurant.”

“Shore Drive Game Stop robbed.”

“Local lawyer admits stealing $2.3 million in client funds.”

“Easter decorations stolen from Chesapeake girl's grave.”

This is just a sample of what’s been happening in my locality. Expand this across the rest of my state and it would grow exponentially. And let’s not even think about how large the list of evil events would be if we expanded to our nation and then onto the world.

Each and every day, it seems more and more as if wickedness is thriving.

Why is it happening?

Perhaps our answer can be found in this fact:

Only 32% of our population is Christian.

It’s a sad point to consider, even more sobering if you consider that although the world’s population has grown steadily over the last 100 years, the number of Christians in the world has remained steady at one-third of the population. Simple math tells us that 68% of our population lives without Christ every day and we can’t discount that a segment of the Christian population allow themselves to become overcome with evil and commit atrocities. It happened in the scriptures and it’s still happening today.

Not exactly encouraging thoughts to consider, are they? In fact, they could be downright discouraging and despairing if we let them.

Looking at our proverb today, we’re seeing the words of the scriptures come to life. For when we see wickedness thrive in the world around us, it’s because sin is thriving. When people live outside righteousness as so many do, then they are living under the influence of sin and it’s only a matter of time before sin leads them to evil and its damaging outcomes which result in destruction to the perpetrator and often destruction to those they impact through their wicked acts.   

So what are we to do? How are we to live in hope in the midst of a world where sin and wickedness are thriving?

We simply need to remember that sin is going to be destroyed.

Look at the second part of today’s verse and you’ll find the bold assertion that the righteous - that is those who have placed their faith, hope, and trust in Christ Jesus - will see the downfall of sin and wickedness.

When will that happen?

When Jesus returns.

Just a little more than a week on the other side of Easter, we need to remember that Jesus bore the sins of mankind on the cross of Calvary and died there, signaling that sin would also have its death one day through Him. But sin’s death would be later as Jesus first had to come back to life and experience victory over the grave and sin Himself in order to make the way for those who placed their belief in Him to follow. This is how much God loved His people, that He would not wish for them to perish in the midst of sin and wickedness but rather have a chance to live with Him and His Son Jesus forever (John 3:16). Those who accept this invitation to salvation will become part of the righteous who will be present when Jesus destroys sin for good.

You see, when Christ returns, He will make all things new (Revelation 21), pushing the reset button on all creation. The old heaven and earth will pass away and so will the wicked and sin. The righteous, those who are dead and alive in Christ, will join Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17) and He will populate the new heaven and earth with them. God’s dwelling place will be the dwelling place of the righteous and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, only peace and light and love forever as the old order of things will have passed away.  

In sum, when Jesus returns, He is returning to have the final victory and sin will be destroyed once and for all. And thus, those who live in Him are living in victory even with sin and wickedness all around them. Brother and sister Christians, we need to remember these words from the Apostle Paul and live in this world like we have the bold assurance that everything is going to be alright because we have Jesus.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:31-39

Friends, in a world filled with iniquity and evil, we will always be more than conquerors. For nothing and no one can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ, the One will one day come back to destroy sin, the One through which we always have hope, now and forever.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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WISDOM IN DISCIPLINE

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In Christ, Mark

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

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.

Proverbs 29:15, 17

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

Want to light the fuse on a powder keg topic within Christianity?

Get into a discussion about child discipline.

You typically will find two sides of the debate with the fulcrum being the matter of corporal punishment.

One side advocates never striking your child but seeking alternative disciplinary methods instead. The other will turn to the word of God and show where corporal punishment is not only appropriate but advisable. The Book of Proverbs can often be found in the center of this discussion as we will see in our two verses for today from Chapter 29:

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Proverbs 29:15

Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17

Going back to the argument on disciplining children, I think all can agree that children need disciplined. It’s there that common ground can be found in the discussion.

The scriptures warn us that not disciplining will create problems not only for the child but for the parent as well who will end up disgraced in the end. Conversely, discipline you child and you will experience peace and delights, something every parent desires. We all love to delight in our children and their behaviors, when positive, good, and right, do indeed bring parents peace.

Yes, all will agree discipline is needed. It’s the methodology that brings people either into agreement or difference with one another.

Looking again at verse 15, we will typically find agreement between Christian parents that children should be reprimanded and that those reprimands impart wisdom on children. A child is ever learning and the root meaning of the word “discipline” is “to teach.” And so when children err in ways that warrant correction, parents are to rectify negative behavior, teaching the child that their behavior is unacceptable.

But what happens when your reprimands begin to fail in their effectiveness? What do you do when your children choose to blatantly defy their parents and stubbornly lean toward disobedience?

This is where additional measures could be prescribed and the scriptures not only support the application of these measures but also advocate for the use of them. For if the reprimand is not taken seriously, then one may need to use the rod to reinforce the need for the child to honor their father and mother as God commanded.    

The Hebrew word translated as “rod” in Proverbs is “shevet” and could represent a staff or stick used as a means of discipline. A child who chose to be rebellious, insolent, and insubordinate may need more extreme discipline to correct behavior. Far better for them to learn obedience to the Lord and His word when younger than grow into adulthood and then face the wrath of God, correction far worse than being struck with a stick.

Now, before anyone begins to rail against me, the word of God says this. Like it or not, His word is truth and we are to be obedient to all of it. We cannot go down the slippery slope of picking and choosing which parts of the word of the Lord we will heed and which we won’t. Perhaps in the matter of being wise in discipline, we would best be able to resolve the debate by considering three key points:

1. Before we make any decision in dealing with our children and their negative behavior, we should be praying for the Lord’s will in how we should act.

This is the key when it comes to all behaviors in life, right? We’ll never go wrong when we turn our trust to the One who will always render proper direction and guidance. If the Lord deems for the rod to be used, then it’s for a purpose and we should use it only to the degree warranted. This leads me to points two and three.

2. Extreme physical discipline is not sanctioned through the scriptures.

Woe be it to anyone who tries to mask abuse as discipline. Look at the following word of the Lord from Paul’s letter to the Colossians:

Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits. Colossians 3:21 (The Message)

A child with a crushed spirit is damaged not taught. We’re not to spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24) but we’re not to misuse it either and all parents need to understand that the God who placed His children in their care is the same God who watches everything they do in raising those children to include the way they are disciplined. There is always an accountability point to the Lord when it comes to correction and parenting.

3. Jesus has a special place in His heart for children.

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:13-14

There can be no questioning the love Jesus has for everyone but we can see here that He has a particularly strong fondness for little children. As Christians, we are to adopt this same sense of affection and no one with that sense of devotion would discipline in a spirit of cruelty or malice vice one of love. Jesus will not stand for the children He holds so dear to be mistreated. Neither should anyone else.

The message today is that there is wisdom in the application of discipline and one will only discipline wisely if they allow the Lord to guide that discipline. He, as He does in all other matters, settles the debate between what is right and wrong because He is perfectly righteous in every way.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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ENDURING RULE

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In Christ, Mark

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

If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.

Proverbs 29:14

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

The Book of Proverbs has guidance on people leading daily lives. There’s little disputing that.

There’s also little disputing that the Book of Proverbs contains guidance for those who are given the opportunity to govern people as they live their daily lives. Today’s verse is one of those pieces of guidance:

If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever. Proverbs 29:14

Now one could say that this is archaic as there are very few kings today. We see far more presidents and prime ministers than we ever see kings. But we should not get wrapped up in semantics here. For the gist of God’s word is not centered on the type of ruler but rather the way the ruler leads their people.

The message is simple enough. Rule and judge the poor with fairness and the leader will reign forever. Conversely then, we can estimate that an unfair ruler will not be sustained in their sovereignty.

Now ask yourself this. Name one worldly king who ever reigned forever. Don’t spend too much time thinking it over because it has never happened. There have been some leaders who were in office for a long time but not eternally. This is because there is no such thing as a perfect leader. No ruler leads in perfect fairness and so no ruler will rule forever.   

So you might ask, “So what’s the point? If achieving the stated reward is unattainable, then why even have this proverb within the word of God?”

I’ll give you two reasons:

1. It gives leaders something to aspire to.

The Lord expects the poor to be cared for with caring and compassion. There is little doubt that He is a strong advocate for the underprivileged. With this, the Lord expects anyone who He blesses with the opportunity to rule to do so in accordance with His will and way, a will and way that will always expect the poor to be cared for fairly. Seek the Lord and His direction as a leader and He will always lead you to do the right thing. He will also allow you to continue to rule His people for as long as you remain obedient to His expectations.

2. We realize that the Lord is the only perfect Ruler.

No worldly ruler is perfectly fair but the Lord God Almighty is. That’s why He is the Lord of lords and King of kings, the one true Ruler and Leader of all mankind. His throne and His throne alone will be established forever.

Friends, on this Sunday, our day of worship, let us give all our praise and honor and glory to the Ruler of everything in heaven and on earth. For He always judges us with fairness, granting us grace and mercy where we deserve destruction and wrath while taking us from the poor impoverished sinful states we’re in and saving us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Do you know your King whose throne has, is, and will always endure forever?

It’s not too late to submit to Him and receive your portion of eternity where one day you will live with Him forever and continue to enjoy the abundant fruits of His reign.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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HOW DO YOU SEE IT?

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In Christ, Mark

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

The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:13

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

Spend enough time talking to people about life, particularly about events and occurrences in the world around us, and you’ll quickly discover that everyone has a viewpoint on matters and those viewpoints are not always in agreement. These viewpoints are shaped by any number of things such as our political affiliations, level of education, religious beliefs, or views of an organization we are associated with. You may even find gender, race, and age as factors in the way we look at things. One’s own personality and demeanor can even impact the way we look at things (i.e. optimists see the glass half full, pessimists see it half empty).

As we deal with this matter of perspective, we often find it is hard to find common ground on matter, a problem that often keeps nations, and often churches, fractured and divided. So how can we combat this problem and get people to be on the same page, like-minded in a way that promotes unity and progress vice dissension and regression?

Perhaps the answer can be found within today’s verse from Proverbs, Chapter 29:

The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both. Proverbs 29:13

Consider the poor person’s viewpoint against the view of the oppressor.

The poor person sees the oppressor as one who has no interest in helping them, only using them to their own gain. The poor person sees themselves as unable to fend for themselves, captured and trapped in their impoverished existence. They hold a hatred for the oppressor and hope for a day when they will be set free from their underprivileged life and find their way to a brighter future, one where they will never have to worry about their needs being met.

Conversely, the oppressor sees nothing wrong with having a cadre of poor people at their disposal. That’s just the way of life. Some are fortunate to have power and wealth, some are not. And part of the benefit of having that power and wealth is to be able to have people under you, people who you can use to the benefit of you and your organization. The oppressor doesn’t see themselves in a bad light. After all, they make sure the poor have what they need to live, even if it’s not plentiful. They would argue that the poor actually would have it worse off if they were off on their own somewhere.

Two people connected in life. Two very different sociological conditions and therefore, two very different views on the world they live in.

 And yet, both have a very common denominator and He is the Lord.

For no matter what variety of viewpoints the world offers us to follow, none of them matter when it comes right down to it. For only the Lord’s perspective counts and we all have the opportunity to see things His way.

We know this because the word of God from Proverbs for today tells us. The Lord has granted sight to everyone, no matter what their condition or life situation. And this sight isn’t just the ability to look at things physiologically, it’s the ability to allow Him to form our viewpoints from His perspective.

If the oppressor looked at the world through the sight the Lord had given, the situation would be markedly different. Actually, the oppressor would do what they had to do to get rid of the label “oppressor” because the Lord would guide them to care for those in need with compassion and caring and provision. They would not be able to see themselves as more superior to the poor but seek to see them as their brothers and sisters, part of the family of God. And within the family of God, people are to love one another.  

Can you see where this is a world and life changer if we take this to heart and see the world through the sight the Lord has given us, His sight which dramatically changes the way we view the world and those created by God to dwell within it?

So how do you see things?

Do you look at things through the lens of the world and its attitudes?

Or do you see with the vision of the Lord, a vision that always leads us to look at things with a sense of righteousness and holiness?

In the end translation, the Lord grants us all sight. We only need to use it to His glory.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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