- Tuesday, 3/17/20 Ecclesiastes 1:17, And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. Solomon lived a miserable life because he tried to walk on both sides of the street.
Figure out what you believe and then give yourself wholeheartedly to it. Ecclesiastes 7:16, Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Much of this book records Solomon’s thinking using just his mind and eyes. While God gave us a brain to use and eyes to observe, never elevate our puny, flawed 5 senses and corrupt mind over the principles of the Bible. Yes, be over much righteous; seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God; meditate on the Bible day and night and never let It depart out of thy mouth. If we love God like we should, our love for others will be, in comparison, as hate. Live for the eternal...it’s the smart move. Matthew 27:54, Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. These men saw the same events unfold that afternoon as the priests and Pharisees did. Yet these responded properly, and maybe even got saved. Lesson: don’t let your familiarity with the things of God blind you. That long-held view that you have MAY be wrong. Is a new convert more attuned to the voice of the Spirit than you or I? Are the new converts dropping practices/habits/standards that we are going back to?
- Wednesday, 3/18/20 Ecclesiastes 10:10, If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. A person can work harder or he can work smarter. Both are good; one is better. Do an honest self-evaluation of your job performance today. Luke 15:20b, But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The father didn’t know yet that the son was going to apologize to him, but he was thrilled to just see his son. That means the relationship meant more to him than the offense that was done against him. On which do you tend to dwell? The presence of a permanent relationship or transitory differences?
- Thursday, 3/19/20 Song of Solomon 7:10-12a, I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field...Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth. Lovers should share interests; things that matter to either; share lives, not just a house and a bed. Matthew 22:21, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. What belongs to God? I found about 9 things, two of which you and I can affect. Primarily, the tithe is the Lord’s. Leviticus 27:30, And all the tithe of the land...it is holy unto the Lord. Are you laying claim to His money? 1 Samuel 24:10, ...I will not put forth mine hand against [Saul]; for he is the Lord's anointed. Are you attacking any God-called men of God? They’re men...of course they have faults. But their faults are NOT for Facebook or public discussion...unless yours are too...but even then, they are His anointed; you aren’t. So...I guess yours and mine should be displayed first. I’ll be the gentleman and let you go first. Confess away...
- Friday, 3/20/20 Psalm 81:1, Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Very simply, when you’re alone, are you more likely to sing spiritual songs or secular songs? Music is a part of all of our lives; let’s figure out how to increase the amount of godly music to our spirit. Psalm 143:8, Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. If we’re born again, we HAVE a relationship with God. (BTW, good works, sincerity, church membership or heritage do NOTHING to get one to Heaven: message me.) We HAVE a relationship, but it must be renewed each day. New day requires new effort. You do that with your spouse and kids and coworkers, don’t you? You greet them and then compliment them or express your love for them and so forth...do it with God. STOP...take 5, and greet God.
- Saturday, 3/21/20 1 Corinthians 11:3, But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. This is God’s order for a home. Far too few of our homes utilize this order. It’s not to say anyone is better than another, but He has decreed this arrangement. Do you follow it in your home? In your mind? Is this YOUR paradigm? 1 Corinthians 11:9, Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. Remember that woman is the highest creation of God. God determined that it was not good for the man to be alone and needed a help meet (a ‘helper’ ‘fitted’ to him.) Men, you need her more than she needs you. Ma’am, are you still fulfilling the needs he has? Are you still the perfectly fitted glove for his hand? He needs you physically, emotionally (a cheerleader), and spiritually (to encourage him and to follow his lead.) Sir, be sure to keep your helper in good shape or you’ll not get your needs met. Encourage your encourager.
- Sunday, 3/22/20 Isaiah 6:1, In the year that king Uzziah died I saw ALSO the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Is our God sovereign? If He is, then He is aware of and present IN our problems and heartaches. Don’t be so blinded by grief that you miss Him. Isaiah 8:13-14a, Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary... A proper fear of God (which DOES include a degree of outright trembling) lessens other fears. So, we WILL have respect for and be afraid of something/someone: we must choose whether it is God whom we will fear or man and circumstances. (Note the word “let”.)
- Monday, 3/23/20 Matthew 27:39-40, And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, ...If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Sad verses, but we likewise, so often, do the same: “If You love me, why this? Why don’t You answer my prayer NOW? What’re You waiting for?” We’re very adept at telling God how to do a better job at being God. Matthew 27:6, And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. This verse is almost laughable to me. I can’t believe these priest while plotting to kill an innocent man (let’s just say they didn’t feel Christ was God; at least they knew they had nothing on this “very good human.”) I am incredulous toward them. Yet, I wonder how often a lost and dying world looks at me: my attitude, daily demeanor, temper, hard heart, unforgiveness, my words, my music, my dress, my entertainments and are just as incredulous. “YOU do/think/say/listen to/dress like/watch THAT?!?!?” We oft times cannot help but to notice another’s faults, but let’s primarily work on acknowledging, confessing, and dismantling the beam in our own eye.
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