August 9 – Choose Careful Correction

“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” – Proverbs 9:8-9 (ESV)

A worthy saying is, “Be carful to pick your battles.” This applies to us in so many ways. Whom do we know that needs some help or instruction in how to cope with the many challenges of life? We all make mistakes due to our ignorance or lack of understanding. Thus we all need help to learn better ways to manage. Certainly there are many that might come to mind. When they do, it is a smart thing to consider who we might reprimand for their own good as well as others.  Will they receive the correction or reproof or will their reply be only to scoff and jeer? There is a danger in trying to reprove a wicked person and we might be better forgoing the effort. Yet, for those who are wise our effort to help might be appreciated and they thank us. Plus when we’re receiving such instruction from a brother or sister we can know that it will improve our life⸺if we take it to heart. Don’t we desire to be wise and righteous even when receiving correction? Such correction will only lead to our better understanding and from it we gain more wisdom.  

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June 24 – With Truth Comes Acid

“Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.”  Job 22:21-22 (ESV)

The story of Job in the Bible is not one many really know very well. We might know of Job’s trials, losses and why. We might even have a clue about three friends who fail to understand and so  missed the mark when trying to offer help. Instead of comfort counselors they were accusers.  But in all that is said to Job, there are many interesting and valuable bits of advice. Eliphaz, the third and at first silent friend, is at first courteous, but in chapter 22 his frustration rises. Again, the fate of the wicked is expressed in the simplistic idea that all suffering comes from sin. Eliphaz did not believe Job was innocent and so painted a picture of the life of blessing in store for Job if only he would return to God and repent of his sin (v. 23). Out of this bit of acidic advice from his “friend” there is a truth. In order to properly “agree with God, and be at peace,” we must know Him as He has revealed Himself. In order to know God, God must know us as His own. That is how we truly know peace from Him.

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July 7 – Instruction, Endurance, Encouragement

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in his letter to the believers and followers of Jesus who were in Rome.  Paul was talking about “whatever was written” in reference to the books of the Old Testament.  We believe that as the New Testament was assembled by the early church fathers, the lesson of these words became applicable to those writings.  As we read the Bible we have, both the Old and New Testaments, we can trust in the promise that all the Bible has been written to give us hope and for our instruction, endurance and encouragement.  The Scriptures are the source of such hope, the hope that will not disappoint us and that we can trust.  

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October 9 – Our Hope, Our Goal

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”  Romans 15:4 (ESV)

It is a true and trustworthy statement that we each face needs each day.  Almighty God knows very well just what our needs are and He promises to provide for us.  We are reminded of this in the Bible verse we have today.  Perhaps we trip up at times because we don't always stop and take account of how much encouragement God has provided for us in the Bible.  We need to remember what a long process has been involved in recording all these events starting with the creation, with Adam and Eve, with the patriarch and the prophets.  Written in former days for our benefit, these records were written by hand and copied by hand and passed on for so many centuries.  And then the story of Jesus and how the needs of salvation was passed on long before printing was ever invented.  God planned and supervised and preserved all this and now we have the Bible.  Why?  In order to give us the opportunity of knowing about His gift of eternal life and a hope that will not disappoint.  It is promised to us. 

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July 13 – Encouragement Brings Hope

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Romans 15:14 (NASB)

The purpose of this daily blog is to find encouragement from the Bible each day and inspiration for living.  But this process is something that has been going on long before any of this communication technology was invented.   Notice that the apostle Paul writes about receiving encouragement from the Scriptures.  And he wrote that not only for himself because he knew that way before his time people were finding instruction and were being encouraged as they read the Old Testament Scriptures.  Paul also meant all his friends who were also encouraged as they read, or heard other read the Scriptures.  Yes, even before Bibles were printed people would gather and received encouragement as God's Word was read from the scrolls.  And so even today you and I find encouragement from God's Word, don't we?  The final promised result is important – encouragement of Scriptures brings us hope.   We are promised that result and it's a good reason to read and listen to the Scriptures.

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February 13 – From a Pure Heart

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)

You are probably aware that tomorrow, we will be celebrating Valentine's Day. This is an opportunity to remind ourselves and others of God's great love for us and His desire to love other people through us. God has shown His love to us by sending His Son to be our Savior. He also shows His love by giving us His promise and assurance of His presence with us. We have responded to God's love by loving Him in return and by loving people around us. We need to be sure that our love for others is true and genuine. Our verse mentions love coming from a pure heart, loving others not for what we get out of it but just as God loves us. Let's allow God's love for people to flow through us. 

April 30 – Love Made Complete

“But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:” 1 John 2:5

God has given us many instructions in the Bible and we realize that He expects us to obey them.  We need God's instructions because naturally we would not be living as He would want His children to live. If we truly love God we will want to live a way that is according to what He wants us to live. We obey God's word and our love for Him is demonstrated. We show our love through obedience. When we obey God word His love for us is also demonstrated. He has given us instructions because He loves us and knows that what is best for us is to live the way He wants us to. In this way His love for us is made complete.

February 19

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130 (NIV)

This Psalm is the longest chapter in our bible and it is a song about the importance of God speaking to us. Each verse says something about God’s word. How wonderful that God has given us so much instruction in the Bible about His words. When the psalmist wrote these words as poetry and a song he was not thinking about the Bible as we know it. Much of the Bible had not been written. But much had been written which included instruction from God and the history of His dealing with His people. We can be thankful that the parts that were known by the writer of this psalm, whoever it was, were preserved along with this chapter and the rest of our Bible which included the New Testament. All of God’s word from the beginning to what we have today does what this verse tells us. When things look dark in our personal lives and in our country and in the world, God’s word gives us light and understanding.

August 29

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)

There is a great benefit that comes to those who put their trust in the Lord. We read that to rely on the Lord brings a blessing. It is well for us to remember that the word translated “blessed” can also be translated “happy.” We can also read the verse as follows: “Happy is he or she who trusts in the Lord.” That is what trusting in the Lord produces in our lives. It produces happiness and satisfaction. As we trust in Him for all our needs, the burdens we have carried and the uncertainties of life are taken care of. We then have the assurance that our loving Almighty God will care for us. Is not that a source of happiness?