Friends… Who Needs Them?

JULY 31, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 19:5-8 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Friends… Who needs them, Right? I can do it myself. I can get along on my own. I don’t need anybody’s help. I don’t need anybody.” Have you ever heard anyone say anything like that? Maybe you have even said something similar. Possibly right after you, or an idea of yours was shunned by someone. Maybe you were invited to a theme party, and when you arrived found you were the only one dressed a certain way. It could be you grew up being put off by those around you, so now you feel you do not need friends and live your life putting others off as well. 

    The problem is, if you are living this way, you are living a lie. We all do need friends. We cannot make it through life on our own. We need others in our lives. Also, it is inherent in us to want to be liked. We all want to have other people’s approval.

     In the Bible Jesus often speaks of friends and family. God created Eve for Adam because He said in Genesis 2:18; “…It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” He later created the church for the same reason. That people might complement one another. I am not referring to people saying good things about one another, although that would be nice. I mean complement one another’s life with the talents and abilities each of us have, given to us by the Holy Spirit. He gifted each of us to bless one another.

    You know, what really makes a person poor? It is not the clothes that they have or where they live. It’s not the amount of money they earn or the type of car they drive. What really makes a person poor is to have no one who trusts in them. It’s having no friend to encourage them, or to pick them up when they fall. A person with few or no friends is poor indeed.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    How would you like to make someone rich today? If you think you can’t, you’re wrong. Go be someone’s real friend. You will be giving them something that all the money in the world can never buy. Introduce them to your friend, Jesus. Then you will have given them true uncountable riches.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 31, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 49 – 54     /   Proverbs 19:5-8

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 6-10    /   Acts 27:21-44

Living In His Word Ministries

Who Wants To Lead?

JULY 30, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 19:1-4 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

  It seems harder and harder these days to find anyone with any real desire to lead among qualified people. Most people do not want to have to make the hard decisions. They seem content to be told what to do, and when to do it. There are very few people who will step up and take the lead.

    Part of the reason for this vacuum in leadership is a fear of being blamed for something if anything goes wrong. If you are not out there in front leading everyone else, then you will not be blamed when things don’t work out. The truth is that no matter how hard you try; things do not always work out.

    If someone does finally step up to lead and something backfires, they’ll look to the left and find no one there to blame. Look to the right, not a soul there to pin it on either. So then, they often look up and start blaming God. If God is in control of everything, then He must have caused this terrible situation to happen. We all know that makes good sense, right? So, we wonder, “If it’s God’s fault, why are people upset with me?”

    Well, as good as that may sound, it is not always true. God allows us from time to time to make mistakes and we are supposed to learn from them. In our verses today, it says the  “foolishness of man” perverts his way. That simply means he has gotten himself into a predicament. He caused his own problems. It was his fault. However, the predicament and problem are not the reason he is referred to as the foolish man. He is foolish because he tries to blame God.

     
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Let’s not run from responsibility just so there’s no one to blame. Sometimes the lesson we need to learn is humility. Simply acknowledge that you are just like the rest of us, not perfect. Ask for God’s forgiveness and others if necessary and move on. You will get farther with God’s blessings than you will by blaming Him for your mistakes. Remember, God also rewards those who follow His lead, and commit to lead others.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 30, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 43 – 48     /   Proverbs 19:1-4

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Psa. 1-5    /   Acts 27:1-20

Living In His Word Ministries

An Unbridled Tongue

JULY 29, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 18:20-24 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

   I remember hearing as a boy, “that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble someday.” Today’s passages ring of that very statement. For whether it is for good or bad, a person will have to live with what they have said. Once the words tumble from between your lips, no matter how hard you may try, you can never take them back. Hurtful, slanderous words will cut like a knife to the very heart of another person.  

    Some people try to gain popularity and friends with fine words and glamorous speeches. However, if their life does not match their statements, it often becomes their downfall. .

    It seems easier to forgive, and yes, even forget a physical punishment faster and easier than a verbal abuse. The reason is that Satan will continue to replay those words in your mind until they become like a recording playing over and over every time you see the person who said them.

    In the book of James, it was written that the tongue is a hard thing to tame. In James 3:6 it says, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

    Oh, how careful we need to be of what we say. We need to pray that God will help us bridle our tongue. That the words we speak may be meaningful, and that each one would be spoken with love for one another.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In Psalms 19:14 it says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Who could say it any better than that?

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 29, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 38 – 42      /   Proverbs 18:20-24

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 39-42     /   Acts 26

Living In His Word Ministries

Decisions, Decisions

JULY 28, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 18:17-19 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    Decisions, decisions, they can drive you crazy. Who is going to make them? What makes a decision right? How do we know it’s right? Just the thought of two different ideas and having to decide between them has driven good friends far apart. Frequently it is not the decisions that are made, but the decisions never made which causes the most division. It often comes when friends can’t agree on how to disagree. It may well be better for friends to sit down and agree on how a decision will be made before disagreement ever becomes the problem. 

    In verse 18 the Bible says, “The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.” In Bible times, the casting of lots was accepted as a fair and just way to decide an issue. It was believed that God, who is in control overall, would then decide the issue for Himself. The decision was accepted as God’s will, and no man could argue against that.

    Today in our Church, we do very much the same thing. When an issue is in dispute, we will first search in God’s Word for an answer, all the while praying for a clear understanding. Sometimes God will give us clarity on the issue, and a decision will be made at that point. If not, we then present the situation to the Church Board. A group of men made up of the Pastor, Deacons, and Trustees who were elected by the church to oversee such matters. If the issue is not resolved there, it is taken to the church membership where every member has a voice on the matter. We believe God intervenes and decides the matter for Himself through the members of His body, which is the Church, and what God decides is final.

    
THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Ultimately, we want God’s Will in all matters of our lives. Have you wrestled with something in your life, and desire to know the will of God? First, Pray, and read Gods Word. Next, seek out Godly counsel. Finally, let God decide and accept it.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 28, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 32 – 37     /   Proverbs 18:17-19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 35-38    /   Acts 25

Living In His Word Ministries

Step Aside, We Have A Gift

JULY 27, 2020

DAILY PROVERBS:

Proverbs 18:13-16 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    “Coming through, make way, step aside, let them through… they have a gift.” This was probably not your greeting at the last Christmas, or Birthday party to which you brought a gift. There are only a few reasons where this might be the greeting.  

• If the gift was so large it took more than one person to carry it you may hear this greeting.

• If the gift you were carrying was of such great value this might be the words people would hear.

• If the gift is fragile and the least little touch, or dropping it would cause horrible damage this might be introduction.

    However, for the child of God the gift spoken of in today’s verse is not often looked upon as this type of gift. This is a gift given to you personally by God. You are specially prepared by God for a specific purpose in this life. God has gifted you to carry out a ministry He desires of you and designed for you.

    If you really think about though, this special gift from God also has all the above qualities. This gift is too large for you to handle. Therefore, God said He would never leave you nor forsake you. It is of such great value that He has placed the Holy Spirit in you as a guard, or as the book of Ephesians calls Him, a seal. In addition, you and your gift are of such value that Jesus, the Son of God Himself came down from Heaven, to a sinful world, to pay the price of it.

    “Coming through, make way, step aside, let them through… they have a gift.” This gift brings great joy and satisfaction. When used to glorify God, it brings joy to the recipient of the gift, to you as the giver, and to God who created the gift as well.

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    Ask God today to help you recognize the area of life in which He has gifted you. If you know your gift, ask Him to help you discover where and how to use it best for Him in the body of Christ. You will find such joy in doing what you were created to do. There is joy in serving Jesus.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  JULY 27, 2020

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH DAILY PROVERBS
  Isaiah 27 – 31     /   Proverbs 18:13-16

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
  Job 32-34    /   Acts 24

Living In His Word Ministries