Author: Jayne Lawson

Scripture: “Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.” – (25:4)

Observation: Our verse today speaks to the purification process for silver. It is heated until it becomes molten. In this state, the impurities will float to the surface and then be skimmed off by the refiner. This will leave the silver without contamination, ready to be used, poured into its final form.

Application: Becoming “fit for the Master’s use” is a process in the life of the Christian. Like silver, we have impurities in our lives that must be removed in order for God to effectively use us for His purposes. These refining processes take for form of trials and tests that He allows in our lives. No one wants these types of situations to occur, but it is through these challenges that God makes us fit for His use. Here are three reasons why God allows the purification process to happen in our lives.

1. Sin
   • Our sin is an impurity that Jesus dealt with at the cross. On Calvary, He bore the sins of the world upon Himself, suffering and dying to satisfy God’s requirement for the payment of sin that you and I could never pay. 3 days later, Jesus rose to become our living Saviour, ready to forgive all who call upon His name. Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
   • It is important to realize that even after salvation, we still sin. Seeking forgiveness from Jesus is not just a one-time event in our lives; whenever we sin, we must go to Him, confess our sin and ask for His forgiveness (which He gives freely!). 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Remember, we are a work in progress (Philippians 1:6) and God’s purification process continually refines us until He call us to our heavenly home.
2. Faith
   • Our faith often needs strengthening, and this comes through testing. All through the Bible, we read of individuals who faced unimaginable testing, growing their faith. Imagine how Noah’s faith must have grown when he experienced God’s deliverance from the flood, or Daniel’s faith when he sat in the lions’ den and not one beast roared! These are just two examples of godly individuals whose faith was tested and came forth as pure silver!
   • Sometimes we experience challenging times as well. We may ask God why something is happening to us. The answer may be that God is using the situation as a time of strengthening your faith in Him. 1 Peter 1:7 states, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” It is during these times that our faith is able to grow stronger as it is purified through the hardships.
3. Dependence
   • Sometimes we go through trials to learn to rely on God rather than ourselves. It is easy to want to “take the reins” and control the situations in which we often find ourselves. The Bible reminds us in Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man,” but sometimes we do the exact opposite. We turn to God only when our own resources have been depleted. That needs to be flipped! We need to run to Him first! When circumstances are overwhelming, God can use them to help us learn to depend upon Him rather than ourselves to meet our every need in every situation!
   • Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Who better to trust in than the One who created, sustains, and controls all things?

The saying “trust the process” means that we should be patient and persevere because refinement takes time and effort. In the life of a Christian, we need to “trust the Saviour” as Job did. He experienced events in which we cannot even fathom the depth of despair he must have felt. However, the Bible records his words of faith when he spoke of the Redeemer in Job 23:10, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

May we have the faith of Job when we face challenges and struggles that God uses to mold us into a vessel for His use!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, Your ways are so much higher than mine, and I praise You for Your wisdom and power. Thank You for continuing the work in me as You promised in Your Word. Thank You for even the hard times because I know You allowed them for a purpose as I know You will always be with me as I go through them. Give me the strength to trust You with my whole heart and to come forth as purified silver, ready to be used by You. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus, Thine all-victorious love shed in my heart abroad;
Then shall my feet no longer rove, rooted and fixed in God.

O that in me the sacred fire might now begin to glow;
Burn up the dross of base desire, and make the mountains flow!

Refining fire, go through my heart, illuminate my soul;
Scatter Thy life through ev'ry part, and sanctify the whole.

(from “Jesus, Thine All-Victorious Love” by Charles Wesley)

**********

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21

Scripture: “Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.” – (24:27)

Observation: Our key verse today stresses the importance of doing everything in the proper order. In Biblical times, the society was agrarian. They raised livestock and grew crops. This verse speaks to the wisdom of having food and resources for one’s future before spending time on less critical things.

Application: The old saying, “Don’t put the cart before the horse” really aligns with today’s verse. Prioritizing is so important in determining what we should do and when, otherwise, we may be in for a very unsuccessful outcome for our efforts. Without proper planning and preparation, plans rarely come to fruition. It takes wisdom and patience to have the proper foundation for success.

Preparation sometimes means we have to postpone something we really want to do until we have done the necessary groundwork. For example, if I want to play the violin, I should not rush out to purchase a genuine Stradivarius before learning to play the instrument. Taking lessons and determining if I have the interest and skills needed to play would be the foundation necessary prior to purchasing an expensive violin.

It is the same in our spiritual lives. Our hearts must be right in the sight of God before we can serve Him. Preparing the foundation for our work for the Lord begins with our salvation, that is, accepting Christ’s forgiveness of sins and making Him Lord of our lives. Once we have done that, we then begin to learn more about Him from the Bible through church and Sunday school attendance, as well as our own personal times of study. As we grow in our faith, God begins to show us areas that need more work in our lives to better equip us to serve Him. In Luke 14:28, Jesus teaches, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?”

Once the foundation has been laid, through prayer and godly counsel, we seek the Lord’s direction in what to do. Serving Christ is a joy, but it is not to be taken lightly. Without the proper foundation, our work is less effective and can even mislead others. With Jesus leading us, we can confidently go out and be builders of the faith!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word that gives me all I need to have a strong foundation in You. Thank You for those You have placed in my life to teach me and help me learn more about You. Strengthen my foundation in You that I might serve You better and reach others for the cause of Christ. Thank You for the opportunities You have provided for me to serve You. In Your precious  name and with thanksgiving, I pray. Amen.

The wise man built his house upon the rock. The wise man built his house upon the rock.
The wise man built his house upon the rock. And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down, and the floods came up. The rains came down, and the floods came up. The rains came down, and the floods came up, and the house on the rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand. The foolish man built his house upon the sand.
The foolish man built his house upon the sand. And the rains came tumbling down.
The rains came down, and the floods came up. The rains came down, and the floods came up.
The rains came down, and the floods came up, and the house on the sand fell down.

So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ. Build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ,
Build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the blessings will come down.
The blessings come down as your prayers go up, the blessings come down as your prayers go up,
The blessings come down as your prayers go up, so build your life on the Lord.

(from “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” by Ann Omley)

**********

“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”. – Psalm 127:1

Scripture: “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” – (23:17)

Observation: Our key verse targets a very common problem – envy! Solomon warns that we should not be envious of others, but instead focus our hearts to the Lord continually. It is only through Him that we will find complete satisfaction and contentment.

Application:

Have you ever found yourself wishing you had something that someone else had? We all have probably found ourselves in that situation at one time or another. Envy involves wanting what someone else has, and that can lead to some very serious problems.

One huge problem with envy is that its focus is often on ungodly people and their possessions or achievements in life. When we want what others have, we fall into the sin of covetousness, and this often leads to doing whatever it takes to “keep up with the Joneses”!

The phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” refers to the pressure we put upon ourselves to be like others who we deem to be more highly esteemed or successful than us. We see a person’s value in their worldly successes, and we begin to measure ourselves by the world’s standards instead of God’s standards. Things such as wealth, fame, power are very alluring, and the coveting of them can easily become all-consuming in our lives. Additionally, things such as a new car, a job promotion, or even someone’s spouse or family can lead to feelings of envy! The constant comparison to those around us leads to the weed of envy taking root and growing wildly in our lives, overtaking our lives, and ultimately leading to intense dissatisfaction and destructive behaviors

The Bible cautions us against envy in several places. Here, Solomon warns against coveting what others have. Temporal things, such as expensive possessions or positions of prestige and power are fleeting. When they vanish, those whose hope was placed in those things, find it difficult to face life. Their feelings of self-worth  which were directly tied into money, notoriety, and power, evaporate, despondency and despair in its wake. Numbing the loss can lead individuals to drugs, alcohol, and other actions that can have devastating consequences. Their envy perpetuates a destructive cycle which never yields contentment because their goal is unattainable. There will always be someone richer, more famous, more powerful, or more influential.

In contrast, when an individual has a relationship with Jesus, their self-worth is not based upon the acquisition of worldly goods, fame, or riches. A Christian’s self-worth comes from the realization that as sinners, we are completely unworthy of the love of God, yet He loves us regardless! Knowing that Jesus went to the cross to die for our sins was the ultimate act of love, and His sacrifice was for everyone regardless of our worldly possessions, bank account, social status, etc. God doesn’t care about any of that! Acts 10:34-35 states. “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”

In God’s eyes, we are all the same, and He loves us all. Nothing matters to God except our relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. When we accept Jesus as our personal Saviour, we become a beloved child of God! We are cherished and treasured by Him for all eternity. It doesn’t matter where we are from, what we’ve done in our lives, or how much we’ve sinned! God loves each one of us unconditionally! All we need to do is call upon His name for salvation. The Bible tells us in Romans 10:13 affirms, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In Christ, we have everything we could ever want!

If you don’t know Christ as your Saviour, and you’d like to know more about Him, I’d love to share Him with you. Just drop me a note in the comment section below!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me so much that You gave Yourself for me on the cross. Thank You for meeting every need I have ever had, and for giving me such an abundant life full of joy through You! Thank You for the promises in Your Word, especially the one where I get to spend all eternity with You in heaven! I love You! In Your name, I pray, amen.

Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without him I would fall:
When I am sad, to him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, he makes me glad, He's my friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my friend in trials sore;
I go to him for blessings, and He gives them o'er and o'er:
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest's golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He's my friend.

(from “Jesus is All the World to Me” by Will L. Thompson)

**********

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” – Romans 10:12

Scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – (22:6)

Observation: Today’s verse is a divine explanation of cause and effect. Whatever the parent teaches the child, that child will follow that path in his or her life. Therefore, if a parent teaches a child the ways of the Lord, when that child becomes an adult, it will be remembered. Conversely, if a parent teaches a child the ways of the world, that is the path toward which the child will lean.

Application: I grew up in a non-Christian home. My parents did not become Christians until years after I was an adult with a family of my own. Therefore, I was raised in a home that gave no though to religion or church. As time went on, my parents had personal struggles that led to a period of separation. I was sent to live with relatives in another state. While this was an extremely difficult time for all parties involved, I can look back and see God’s hand in my life during this time. I am certain it was used by the Lord to ultimately lead me to Him.

As a 5-year-old, being away from my parents was devastating, but my father’s family stepped up to love and nurture me during my stay with them. My grandmother was a woman of faith, and she took both my cousin and me to church regularly. We were little girls, not more than 5 or 6 years old, and we attended a nearby Baptist church. I don’t really remember the gospel being preached per se, but I still have Sunday school papers from that time in my life, and I know seeds of salvation were planted.

When my parents reconciled about a year later, I came back home, and, without my grandmother in my life, my church attendance stopped. However, as a pre-teen, and with my parents’ permission, I once again began to attend a church. It was within walking distance of my home (Yes! Children walked everywhere back then. It was a less dangerous world in those days!) It was there that I heard and understood the gospel and realized how desperately I needed the Saviour. I can still remember walking the aisle, kneeling at the altar, and asking Jesus to forgive my sins, come into my life, and be my Saviour. I was now saved!

The point of all of this is that God’s plans always come to fruition. He took a very sad situation in a little girl’s life and used it for His glory. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” As a child, I didn’t understand, and it was a very hard time for me; as an adult, I look back and thank God for how He worked in my life, eventually welcoming me into His family.

Living with my relatives was my first exposure to the things of God. I was “trained up”, albeit for just a short time, but God took those tiny seeds from His Word, watered them, and they took root! Now, well into my latter years of life, I can see how His Word did not depart from me, but instead, it grew and grew, eventually bearing the fruit of salvation in my life, and then guiding me as a wife, mother, and grandmother.

If you are involved in the spiritual training of a child’s life, as a parent, family member, Sunday school teacher, etc., but you don’t see any results, don’t give up! Stay the course! God is faithful to do His part. When that child is old, he or she will NOT depart from it! I am living proof of that! Praise God!

Prayer: Dearest Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for Your plan for my life. You took what could have been disastrous, and made it something beautiful for me! You showed me that I needed You in my life as Lord and Saviour. You planted the seed of the gospel in me as a child, and then placed me in the path of others who would water Your Word until I saw my need for You! I stand amazed, O God, that You would love me that much! Thank You so much for the truth of Your Word! I am so blessed to be loved by such an incredible God! My soul truly rejoices in the Lord! In Your holy name and with great thanksgiving, I pray. Amen and amen!

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

(from “Wonderful Words of Life” by P.P. Bliss)

**********

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 19:14

Scripture: “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”- (21:23)

Observation: Today’s verse warns us to guard our mouths and be careful in what we say. In doing so, we spare ourselves misery and problems that could have been avoided.

Application: I remember my mother cautioning me to “Watch what you say!” or “Mind your tongue!” as I was growing up. In those instances, she was reprimanding me for something I said; I was too young to have any wisdom in my words. I just said whatever was on my mind. My mom did not like for me to “speak ugly” as she would call it. As an adult, I see that her cautionary words were quite similar to those of Solomon. In her own way, my mom was teaching me what it states in Psalm141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”

When we speak without discretion, we can find ourselves in situations that we had not expected. We can easily hurt someone’s feelings, damage our own testimony for the Lord, and create division among family or friends. Additionally, once spoken, words cannot be taken back. They are out there, heard, and often harbored in a heart for long periods of time. This creates so much trouble, and it could have been avoided simply by controlling what was said.

There are many verses in the Bible that tell how problematic an uncontrolled tongue can be. Here are a few examples.

• “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.” – Psalm 52:2
• “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” – James 3:8
• “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” – Psalm 10:7

While man himself has great difficulty controlling his tongue, there is good news! The Bible tells us in Psalm 120:2 that it is God who can provide the control we need. “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” As a child of God, we have His wisdom available to us for the asking (James 1:5), which will aid us in knowing when and how to speak. God’s Word assures us that “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright…” Let our words be a blessing to others, not a curse!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom of Your Word, and for the teaching that I receive from it. Thank You for continuing to open my eyes to the truths in Scripture and helping me apply them to my life. Help me to be a blessing to those around me in word and deed, and help me please You in all I say and do. Please keep me following closely to Jesus, reflecting Him to the world, as I strive to serve You as best I can. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing.
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray.
Make me a blessing to someone today.

(from “Make Me a Blessing” by Ira B. Wilson)

**********

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” – Proverbs 25:11

Scripture: “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.” – (20:11)

Observation: Solomon teaches that it is our actions that define us. When others see what we do, that forms their opinion of us.

Application: I am reminded of another old saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Simply put, this means that you must open the book and read it to know the story it contains. When it comes to humanity, just looking at someone doesn’t necessary define them, but their actions certainly do!

How we act in the world is how we are measured. If you identify yourself as a Christian, you should be acting quite differently than those who are not saved. If you don’t, those who see you doubt your words about your relationship with Jesus. When someone looks at a Christian and sees the world in what they do, there is no reason for that individual to pursue a relationship with Christ because they see no difference between themselves and you. Sometimes, that will give a false sense of security to the onlooker. Since they act as you do, and you’re saved, they assume they are fine and on their way to heaven. The exact opposite is true! Our testimony to others is so important! We should reflect Jesus all the time because you never know when someone is watching you for your reactions to a particular situation.

Am I a good reflection of Jesus 24/7? Sadly, no. There are times when I fail, and I must seek the Lord’s forgiveness and help to be a better image of Jesus to others, but I am reminded that I am a work in progress. When I do fail, two verses in Scripture give me hope that I can still be used of God to honor Him and be a good witness. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” and 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Simply put, God forgives me; continues to work in me, and helps me become more like Jesus. It is not something I can accomplish on my own; I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), and He created me to do good works in His name and for His glory! God knows my heart and sees promise in me!

While we know that God doesn’t look on the outward appearance, but on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), the world doesn’t have that perceptive. What they see is what they get! If a Christian’s actions align with the rest of the world, where does that leave their testimony for Jesus? Romans 8:29 states, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” As Christians, we represent Jesus to the world, not only with our words, but with our lives as His light shines through us. Let us reflect Him well!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and helping me learn more about You. Thank You for working in me and transforming my life to be more aligned with Your Word. Help me to reflect You to the world, bringing You honor and glory as Your Spirit works through me. Help me decrease, and You increase in my life. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

More like Jesus would I be, let my Savior dwell with me;
Fill my soul with peace and love, make me gentle as a dove;
More like Jesus, while I go, pilgrim in this world below;
Poor in spirit would I be; let my Savior dwell in me.

More like Jesus when I pray, more like Jesus day by day;
May I rest me by His side, where the tranquil waters glide:
Born of Him, through grace renewed, by His love my will subdued,
Rich in faith I still would be; let my Savior dwell in me.

(from “More Like Jesus ” by Fanny Crosby)

**********

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 3:18

Scripture: “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.” – (19:27)

Observation: Solomon is warning his son to exercise discretion when determining whose instruction or advice to accept. Making an unwise choice in whose words to trust can have disastrous results.

Application: “Consider the source” is one way to condense Solomon’s advice to his son, and one that we should heed as well. In today’s world, everyone is quick to take the words of famous athletes, celebrities, university professors, and even pastors, as gospel (forgive the pun!). It is vital that we never blindly accept someone’s words as truth without examining them for accuracy.

How do we do that? We have only one source of absolute truth in this world, and that is the Bible. It is the Word of God, and is our standard for truth. If anyone gives instruction, advice, or directives that cannot be supported by the Scriptures, it is time to stop and “consider the source”!

Even me! You should always take the words you read in my blogs and compare them to God’s Word. If there is a discrepancy, believe the Bible, not me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is so easy to slip my own opinions into what I say or write, but please keep me in total agreement with Your Word. Help me, Lord, to always diligently search the Scriptures for Your truth as I seek to learn more about You. Give me discretion and wisdom to be able to recognize Your truth above the truth of the world. May I never cause anyone to stumble or sin because of what I have said or written. Help me to listen to Your Spirit as You lead me in everything I endeavor to do. In Jesus’ holy name, I pray. Amen.

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, and to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust him more!

(from “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus ” by Louisa M.R. Stead)

**********

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” – Proverbs 30:5

Scripture: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” – (18:10)

Observation: Today’s world doesn’t have a monopoly on wickedness. It was just as present and real in Solomon’s day as it is currently. In today’s key verse, the king reminds his son that God Himself is our protector and will provide the safety needed.

Application: One of the most unsettling factors we face in today’s world is the increasing violence. I remember growing up and being able to walk to the grocery store for my mother without fear. Parents let their children roam the neighborhoods until the street lights came on, and walking to school was the norm for many of us. This is no longer the case. Random shootings, child abductions, and senseless brutality have become daily events. This world is a very frightening place, but Solomon’s proverb gives us hope. With Jesus as our Saviour, we have a divine protector. Take a moment to think about how He protected in the past.

• God protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire.
  • “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.” – Daniel 3:28
• God protected Daniel from the lions.
  • “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” – Daniel 6:22
• God protected David from a lion, a bear, and the warrior, Goliath.
  • “David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.” -1 Samuel 17:37
• God protected Paul from the bite of a venomous snake.
  • “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand… And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.” – Acts 28:3,5

God is immutable, that is, He never changes. Malachi 3:6 records God’s words, “For I am the LORD, I change not.” He continues to protect believers today. Isaiah 41:10 also records God declaring, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” What He did then, He will do now.

Do bad things happen to Christians? Yes, they do. We live in a sin-cursed world that is currently dominated by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 5:19), and we are subject to struggles, challenges, and even persecutions. One day, they will be completely eradicated, but until then, God gives us the ability to persevere, and He promises His deliverance. Here is how He offer His protection now.

• Ephesians 6:14-18 explains how we must be clothed in the full armor of God. Verse 13 states, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 gives us a way out when tempted to sin. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
• Psalm 121:8 promises God’s protection forever. “The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”

It is important to remember that God’s will for our lives will come to fruition. He cannot and will not be defeated by Satan and the evil in this world. The Bible promises us this great truth: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1John 4:4). We are God’s children; He is our Father; He holds us in His hand, and makes this statement: “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). That is our God, our strong tower! Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

Prayer:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe does seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

That Word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours, through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;
His kingdom is forever!

(from “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” by Martin Luther)

**********

“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” – Proverbs 18:2

Scripture: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  – (17:17)

Observation: In today’s verse Solomon shares his wisdom regarding friendship. He explains that a true friend is steadfast, remaining true, regardless of circumstances.

Application: I once heard that a person could have many best friends,or besties in today’s lingo, but only a few are true and loyal friends. These are the ones who remain by your side in the good times as well as the bad. The ones you know will always be there for you no matter what.

The “friend who loveth” will be with you during the most challenging times of your life. They will not abandon you when the “going gets tough”. In fact, when you are struggling and facing the toughest times in your life, a true friend acts more like family with their support and assistance, really and willing to do anything and everything that will help you through the crisis.

The truly loyal friend is also one who loves you enough to point out when you are heading down a wrong path. It takes great love to confront someone about with a possible issue regardless of how gently it happens. This can cause hard feelings, but a true friend will seek to help you see your misguided ways and strive to help you return to a better place, physically, mentally, and/or spiritually. Galatians 6:1 gives us specific instruction on how we should act when confronting another believer. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

To become the friend who loveth at all times is humanly impossible. It takes the salvation that Christ offers to change us from being focused inward to be focused upward. A relationship with Jesus is makes all the difference in how we interact with others. Once He becomes our Saviour, we are empowered by His Spirit to show others the same love He showed us on the cross.  To be the friend that loveth at all times, strive to reflect Jesus in your life with your words and your actions. Pray before you act and cultivate a gentle, humble spirit. Your friends will love you for it!

Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Great is Your faithfulness to me! Help me, O God, to be a reflection of You in all my relationships. Help me be quick to see the needs of others and act as You would with a gentle and humble spirit. In Your precious name, amen.

If not in you, I wonder where will they ever see the One who really cares?
If not from you, how will they find there's One who heals the broken heart
And gives sight to the blind?

'Cause you're the only Jesus some will ever see
And you're the only Words of Life some will ever read
So let them see in you the One in whom is all they'll ever need
'Cause you're the only Jesus some will ever see.

(from “You’re the Only Jesus” by Gordon Jensen)

**********

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” – Proverbs 27:9

Scripture: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”- (16:24)

Observation: Solomon tells his son that speaking kindly is similar to having a wonderful treat like the honeycomb. He states that words spoken with warmth and compassion can be healing to person’s physical and spiritual being!

Application: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I remember hearing this many times as a young girl, but now I realize that there is absolutely no truth to this statement. Words, whether intentional or not, can hurt deeply, but on the flip side, words can also restore, encourage, build-up, support, and so much more! Whenever a person speaks kindness to me, my heart is filled with so much joy!

This past weekend, I was feeling somewhat “down in the dumps” over some choices I had made that weren’t in the best interests for my health. I came down pretty hard on myself, which just compounded the issue in my mind. However, when I shared my unhappiness with a very dear sister-friend, she spoke to me with words of compassion, understanding, and encouragement. Then to top it off, she offered a few suggestions that completely changed my perspective and “flipped my switch” from negativity to positivity! What a difference her words made for me! They were a balm to my soul!

Proverbs 15:28 teaches, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” It takes practice to learn to “think before speaking”, but it is a valuable tool to have in your “relationship toolbox”. Speaking off the cuff can have disastrous results! When we choose to use the “tools” of kindness and compassion in our speech, it edifies the listener, but it also has benefits to us! We are rewarded by feelings of contentment and happiness in our own hearts, which validates the old saying, “kindness is its own reward”. Take time to be a good listener, then reflect on what was said before you respond, and when you do, your words will be pleasant and sweet to both you and the one to whom you are speaking!

Prayer: Dearest Father in heaven, thank You for loving me so deeply and caring for every little thing in my life. Thank You for your protection and guidance. Please, O God, set a guard over my mouth. Help me to think before I speak, and may my words be sweet and soothing to all who hear. Help me to speak as if I am speaking to You… in love and with all humility. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; 
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. 

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear, 
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. 

From sorrow, toil, and pain, and sin, we shall be free; 
And perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity. 

(from “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” by John Fawcett)

**********

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” – Proverbs 25:11