The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion. -Prov. 28:1
This proverb is about fear. The wicked are fearful people. They are always on guard. They have to be because they never know who they are going to run into—a guy they ripped off yesterday, a boss they crossed a month ago, etc. The wicked are on edge because they've done wrong. They're constantly looking over their shoulder, even when no one is pursuing.
This proverb is also about boldness. The righteous are bold people. They have confidence to stay where they are. Work with others. Finish the task. The righteous are bold because they know they're doing right. Fear cannot stop these people, let alone slow them down.
When you are wicked, your life is driven by fear. However, when you're righteous, you can be as bold as a lion. Fear has no hold on you because righteousness yields boldness.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Lasting Impact
Establish for us the work of our hands;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
-Psalm 90:17
Toward the end of Moses' life, he took a moment to reflect. He wrote down his reflection in the form of a prayer which became Psalm 90. His prayer is about the 40 years Israel spent wondering in the wilderness on the way to the promised land. Moses' tone is melancholic and contemplative.
In the prayer, Moses recalls the general tendency of the people of Israel to turn away from God. The golden calf. Korah's rebellion. The whining and moaning about manna. All of it was a mess. How was Israel ever going to honor God in the land, much less outside of it?
At the end of the prayer, Moses closes with a humble request. He asks God to establish the works of his hands—and the work of all Israel's hands—despite the mistakes they made along the way. Moses' biggest concern at the end of his life was whether or not he made a difference on the people he led. He wanted to make a lasting impact. That's what he cared about.
At the end of our lives, we will look back and wonder if we made a difference. Will any of our work have mattered? We want to make a lasting impact. So, our humble request is that God establish the work of our hands.
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
-Psalm 90:17
Toward the end of Moses' life, he took a moment to reflect. He wrote down his reflection in the form of a prayer which became Psalm 90. His prayer is about the 40 years Israel spent wondering in the wilderness on the way to the promised land. Moses' tone is melancholic and contemplative.
In the prayer, Moses recalls the general tendency of the people of Israel to turn away from God. The golden calf. Korah's rebellion. The whining and moaning about manna. All of it was a mess. How was Israel ever going to honor God in the land, much less outside of it?
At the end of the prayer, Moses closes with a humble request. He asks God to establish the works of his hands—and the work of all Israel's hands—despite the mistakes they made along the way. Moses' biggest concern at the end of his life was whether or not he made a difference on the people he led. He wanted to make a lasting impact. That's what he cared about.
At the end of our lives, we will look back and wonder if we made a difference. Will any of our work have mattered? We want to make a lasting impact. So, our humble request is that God establish the work of our hands.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Shining Light
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." -Mt. 5:16
The disciples of Jesus were in an awkward position when He spoke these words to them. They didn't yet know Jesus' plan for establishing His kingdom. They thought it was going to be a thunderous, instantaneous coup d'etat of the Roman government. But, it didn't turn out that way. Instead, Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven, leaving His disciples behind on earth with seemingly no establishment of the foretold kingdom. That's weird.... Now, the disciples had to figure out how to live until the kingdom would be fully established.
In this verse Jesus gives us a picture of life in the awkward between time, awaiting the kingdom. Letting your light shine is another way of saying live your life. The imagery of light emphasizes the notion that people will see the way you live. No man is an island. You don't have to do anything crazy for people to notice you. People notice. People see. The question is not whether people see, but what people see in your life. Ultimately, when people see good works, motivated by love for God, God is glorified. May God be glorified by the way we live our lives.
The disciples of Jesus were in an awkward position when He spoke these words to them. They didn't yet know Jesus' plan for establishing His kingdom. They thought it was going to be a thunderous, instantaneous coup d'etat of the Roman government. But, it didn't turn out that way. Instead, Jesus died, resurrected, and ascended to heaven, leaving His disciples behind on earth with seemingly no establishment of the foretold kingdom. That's weird.... Now, the disciples had to figure out how to live until the kingdom would be fully established.
In this verse Jesus gives us a picture of life in the awkward between time, awaiting the kingdom. Letting your light shine is another way of saying live your life. The imagery of light emphasizes the notion that people will see the way you live. No man is an island. You don't have to do anything crazy for people to notice you. People notice. People see. The question is not whether people see, but what people see in your life. Ultimately, when people see good works, motivated by love for God, God is glorified. May God be glorified by the way we live our lives.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Watching the Heart
Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
-Prov. 4:23
Solomon was the 3rd king of Israel. Early in Solomon's rule, God said He would give Solomon anything he wanted. So, Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to judge the people, and God blessed Solomon with his request. Out this new found wisdom, Solomon judged difficult civil cases which arose in Israel. He wrote proverbs and songs. Foreign dignitaries, officials, and wise men came from all surrounding nations to glean from his wisdom. Even the queen of Sheba came and "spoke with him about all that was in her heart" (1 Kgs 10:2). When she was finished speaking with him, she said she had heard he was wise, but now she knew "the half of it was not told" her (v. 7)!
Sadly, during the second half of his reign, Solomon grew distant from God. He took 700 wives, which "turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God..." (1 Kgs 11:4). So, it was his heart that went away. His heart was no longer devoted to God. The same man who said to "watch over your heart with all diligence" is the man who let his heart drift away from God to other things. In the end, God "t[ore] the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon," and ended his reign in disgrace (v. 31).
Solomon shows us why we have to watch over our hearts. Even if we think we are wise, we can still grow distant from God. Even if we're the king of Israel, we can go astray. If we're not careful, we can let other things draw us away from God. And it all starts with the heart. Ultimately, we have to watch over our hearts because the diligence with which we do so will determine the course and outcome of our lives.
-Prov. 4:23
Solomon was the 3rd king of Israel. Early in Solomon's rule, God said He would give Solomon anything he wanted. So, Solomon asked God for an understanding heart to judge the people, and God blessed Solomon with his request. Out this new found wisdom, Solomon judged difficult civil cases which arose in Israel. He wrote proverbs and songs. Foreign dignitaries, officials, and wise men came from all surrounding nations to glean from his wisdom. Even the queen of Sheba came and "spoke with him about all that was in her heart" (1 Kgs 10:2). When she was finished speaking with him, she said she had heard he was wise, but now she knew "the half of it was not told" her (v. 7)!
Sadly, during the second half of his reign, Solomon grew distant from God. He took 700 wives, which "turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God..." (1 Kgs 11:4). So, it was his heart that went away. His heart was no longer devoted to God. The same man who said to "watch over your heart with all diligence" is the man who let his heart drift away from God to other things. In the end, God "t[ore] the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon," and ended his reign in disgrace (v. 31).
Solomon shows us why we have to watch over our hearts. Even if we think we are wise, we can still grow distant from God. Even if we're the king of Israel, we can go astray. If we're not careful, we can let other things draw us away from God. And it all starts with the heart. Ultimately, we have to watch over our hearts because the diligence with which we do so will determine the course and outcome of our lives.
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