Gospel Pearls

WISDOM – A SPIRITUAL GIFT

2009-07-15T08:21:00.001-05:00

1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

5 That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

7 “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. 8 And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! 9 Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. 11 So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies—12 I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have!
“…a wise and understanding heart…”

Wisdom is a gift of the heart. We often think being wise is an issue of the head. Knowledge … education … degrees … schooling. I am an advocate of all these. We need learned leaders but more, we need wise leaders … men and women with a heart that has been gifted by God. Solomon, being the son of the king, would have been given the finest education. He recognized that to effectively govern, he would need something more than head knowledge. He would need a heart that only God could give.

FINDING WISDOM

2009-07-14T09:37:00.002-05:00

Job 28:12-13, 23-24, 27-28
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Wisdom

12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
Where can they find understanding?
13 No one knows where to find it,
for it is not found among the living...
23 “God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
24 for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens...
27 Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

As we observe the world, it seems that wisdom is elusive and difficult to find. Few of us grasp the quiet depth of wisdom. What is the secret and the source of wisdom? Find the answer in The Book of Job 28:12-28.

True wisdom is attained by developing within yourself the fear of the Lord. Wisdom relates to trust, humility, teachability, servanthood, responsiveness and reliance on God. To fear God is to nurture an attitude that is contrary to our human nature. This is an attitude of awe and humility before God and a walk in total dependence upon Him in every area of our life.

WISDOM – A TOOL WORTH HAVING

2009-07-13T09:10:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 8:12-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.

Wisdom is that quality … that character trait … that enables one to live a noticeably … recognizably outstanding life.

Imagine how wonderful it would be if you, if all our leaders, called upon wisdom to guide them in every decision. What leader in their right mind would not want the priceless tool described in these verses?

Can you think of anything more important … more valuable to leadership than wisdom?

DELIVERANCE

2009-07-02T07:43:00.001-05:00

Matthew 8:30-32
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”
32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

Do you think Jesus knew what was about to happen? I do. Jesus knew the reaction of the herd.

I am an animal lover. I swerve to miss the squirrel running across the road. Now if I have to make a choice, say, between the safety of a bus load of kids vs. the poor little squirrel … the kids win every time.

That’s where I perceive that Jesus was. His choice was between the deliverance of two men from demon possession and the suicide plunge of the herd of pigs. Jesus would choose our deliverance every time.

COMPASSION

2009-07-01T07:43:00.001-05:00

Luke 7:11-15
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son

11 Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. 12 A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

I watch C.S.I. Miami reruns. On an episode I watched this week, Horatio Caine is at the scene of a murder involving a young lady with a very shady background. He is quick to remind the officers at the scene that despite her shady past, the victim was still someone’s daughter. This week, we have been flooded with celebrity images of Michael and Farrah … someone’s son … someone’s daughter.

“When the Lord saw her (the mother), his heart overflowed with compassion.”

Jesus was a man of compassion. His heart was broken when He encountered the broken-hearted. As we follow Christ, do we have that level of compassion. Are we hard-hearted or broken-hearted?

WHAT DID JESUS SEE?

2009-06-30T08:05:00.000-05:00

Luke 5:18-20
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus saw the obvious. Jesus saw the act of faith of the paralyzed man’s friends.

Jesus saw the man’s twisted, useless body.

But more, Jesus saw what He sees in each of us. He sees that which separates us from Him. He sees sin.

Beyond the preaching … teaching … the working of miracles … Jesus’ focus is on His purpose for coming … to heal our sin-sick souls.

SUNRISE

2009-06-23T07:37:00.002-05:00

Habakkuk 3:2-4, 19
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Habakkuk’s Prayer

2 I have heard all about you, Lord.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy.
3 I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
4 His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.

It is sunrise on the last day of KAA – U – KNOW 2009. We will head home tonight. God has given us a beautiful day (again) for our last day.

Read again the opening and closing of this beautiful prayer from the prophet Habakkuk (not one of our most spoken of prophets, probably because we stumble all over his name). As I observe the beauty of this last morning on this mountain, Habakkuk reminds me it’s all about the LORD!

PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME

2009-06-22T08:08:00.001-05:00

Psalm 96:10-13
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
He will judge all peoples fairly.
11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise
13 before the Lord, for he is coming!
He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations with his truth.

What a powerful weekend we had at KAA. God showed up. The presence of the Lord was here!

God used the Crosstalk to draw many young people to Him. The Word went forth and it did not come back empty. I don’t have a final count for our kampers but I can tell you several confessed Christ as Lord and Savior and many others rededicated their lives to Him. Chains were broken and the bondages of sin fell away.

Now we must continue to pray for and disciple these young people. The work is not over. Our (the Body of Christ) responsibility to help them ‘Walk It Out’ … walk as children of the Light … just got bigger.

CROSS TALK

2009-06-20T08:05:00.000-05:00

John 19:16-20
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

16 Then Pilate turned Jesus over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion

So they took Jesus away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it.

Today is Crosstalk day at Kids Across America kamp. The gospel will be presented through a powerful dramatic presentation of the passion of Christ (not the movie … live reenactment). Please pray today for these kids hearts to be open and receptive of the gospel message. Please pray tonight for an effective presentation and safety for the actors. Let’s begin right now to bind Satan and all his distracting demons.

WALK IT OUT

2009-06-19T13:30:00.001-05:00

Ephesians 5:6-9
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Living in the Light

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Our kids about being taught to live as children of light. They have heard the message ‘Walk it Out’ in secular terms. Now they are encouraged by God’s Word to ‘Walk it Out’ for the Lord … live as children of light.

IN THE MOUNTAINS

2009-06-18T08:18:00.000-05:00

Psalm 68:14-16
New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.

15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains;
rugged are the mountains of Bashan.

16 Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

Coming to you live from the Ozark Mountains.

God always meets us when we come to meet Him on this mountain at Kids Across America. This trip is no exception. We had bus trouble about a mile from the front gate. God answered the prayers we sent up and the bus was able to creep on in.

I am praying that the bus drivers made it back down safely and made it home with no further trouble!

Praise the LORD. God reigns in the mountains.

THE CHILDREN

2009-06-16T07:10:00.001-05:00

Luke 18:15-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Blesses the Children

15 One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

16 Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.

Summer vacation … you must be kidding. More like a summer whirlwind! Since school was out three weeks ago, there has been a four day weekend spent in prison doing ministry, a two day trip to Atlanta with several church members for my former pastor’s anniversary celebration and many days getting ready to make the annual Eagle’s Wings trip to Kids Across America kamp.

KAA is most important because it’s all about the children. Jesus calls these children to Him on a beautiful mountain in the Ozarks. He meets them there in the activities … the counselors … the worship … and the Word. Many young people hear His call and respond. Jesus says, “Let the children come to me.” Parents send their children. Youth ministry workers bring them. That’s our part. When we get on the mountain, the Spirit takes over. WOW!!! KAA – U – KNOW!!!

Pray for us as we leave tonight and return on June 24th … and every day in between, as you are prompted by the Spirit. (Our group is 37 youth and 5 adults.)

POINT OF VIEW

2009-06-05T07:56:00.001-05:00

Mark 8:31-33
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jesus Predicts His Death

31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead. 32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.

33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” he said. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

If your point of view on an issue does not fall in line with the Word of God, it is inherently satanic. When Peter spoke out against what Jesus was teaching His disciples, Jesus response was a rebuke of Satan.

There are many issues we classify as controversial. The controversy disappears when we yield our human view to God’s view. When we fail to yield, we give Satan ground … authority. No wonder society is struggling. We have given Satan a foothold.

LORD have mercy on us!

THE REWARD

2009-06-03T07:08:00.003-05:00

Hebrews 11:24-26
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Great Example of Faith

24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

There are rewards – family prestige, physical pleasure, financial wealth – here on earth. All these were available to Moses but by faith, he chose another reward. He chose the heavenly reward which awaits us when we live for Jesus Christ.

Earthly rewards are fleeting. Heavenly rewards are eternal. In this life, which have you chosen to pursue?

VISION OF THINGS TO COME

2009-06-02T08:22:00.001-05:00

Revelation 21:1-7
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The New Jerusalem

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

The vision given to John of things to come are simply beyond our ability to comprehend. Our human experience is filled with sorrow, tears, pain and death. Yes, we also have joy unspeakable but life teaches us that the mountain tops are followed by valleys. The goods times don’t last forever. It is difficult to imagine something which is totally out of sync with our daily experience. But that is exactly what the LORD told John to write, punctuating it with a declaration of His trustworthiness … His truthfulness.

Even though it is more than my feeble mind can conceive, I can trust God that one day, this mountain top vision will be my inheritance because I have victory in Jesus.

YOUR WORK

2009-06-01T11:34:00.001-05:00

1 Corinthians 12:1-6
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Spiritual Gifts

1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

I took last week of from writing the Gospel Pearls. I was preparing for and participating on a Kairos Prison Ministry weekend. God put together a team to go into the prison and share the love of Jesus Christ with 42 inmates. The guys and gals on this team were different … different backgrounds … different denominations … different styles … different ages … different races … all different. While different, we all had one thing in common … our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

God used our differences and our various spiritual gifts to paint a beautiful portrait of His love for all men, including these who were incarcerated. They too were different … as different as we were. They each responded to the love of Jesus in their own way. Many embraced it and some rejected it. Others just sat on the fence. The team faithfully used their gifts to God’s glory and there was a harvest which only God knows. God knows the heart.

What and where is the work God has called you to? What is the spiritual gift God has blessed you with and are you using it to bring in a harvest for Him?

THE PRISM

2009-05-22T05:38:00.005-05:00

Matthew 22:37
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

The Great Commandment

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’

A prism is a glass or transparent object which reflects light. A prism can be used to break light into spectacular colors … the colors of the rainbow.

Over the past couple weeks, I have shared thoughts with you on Christian values. Central to our core values is the great commandment … love God with your heart, soul and mind. This is the value of values. It is the prism through which all other values must shine … the filter through which all life’s choices are made and solutions are drawn.

Is your life a beautiful rainbow?

FACING HOPELESSNESS

2009-05-21T05:57:00.002-05:00

Lamentations 3:19-26
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust

Hope in the Lord’s Faithfulness

19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words.
20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss.
21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

The Prophet Jeremiah faced opposition throughout his days, yet he never lost faith. His hope remained in the LORD.

In these days of though economics, terror threats, moral decay and compromising values, remember as Jeremiah did … when facing hopelessness hold on to God’s faithfulness!

SPIRITUAL POUTING

2009-05-20T05:38:00.001-05:00

Jonah 4:5
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Mercy

5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.

For the full context, read Jonah 4:1-11.

I’ve seen it happen on the playground. The young boy who brought the ball that the kids are playing with doesn’t get picked when the teams are chosen. He gets angry and says, “If I can’t play, I’ll take my ball and go home.

Jonah got mad at God when He wouldn’t destroy the city of Nineveh. He was so angry, he walked away from his mission. He left Nineveh, went out the east side, sat down and pouted.

When something doesn’t go your way at church, do you take your ball and go home? Drop out of the choir … look for a new Sunday School class … withhold your tithe … start visiting, looking for a new church home. Do you even try to convince others to go with you? With all the division we see in the Body of Christ (denominations), it would indicate some spiritual pouting … some responses like Jonah’s … has impacted the mission.

The mission is God’s plan, not ours. We choose whether we stay and play or take our ball and go home.

RIGHT MOTIVES

2009-05-19T05:35:00.002-05:00

Isaiah 1:10-13
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

A Message for Rebellious Judah

10 Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
11 “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.

God has a response for right actions with the wrong motivation … rejection. Right behavior performed for the wrong reason is detestable to the LORD.

Ask a child, “Why wouldn’t you steal?” They answer, “Because I would get punished if I got caught.” Most parents would be dissatisfied with the answer because the answer indicates that the child values ‘not being punished’ over ‘being honest’.

God tells us that if our religious practices are motivated by gaining a more pleasant or profitable life, that falls short. That is not worship and He wants none of it. God desires that we be motivated by love for Him and love for each other when we come to worship.

HIDING PLACE

2009-05-18T05:52:00.002-05:00

Psalm 119:9-16
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Values Based on the Word

9 How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
10 I have tried hard to find you—
don’t let me wander from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 I praise you, O Lord;
teach me your decrees.
13 I have recited aloud
all the regulations you have given us.
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.

What you take to heart is who you are. The heart is your center … your core … your source of life. It is in your heart that you hold the things which are most precious to you. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that our heart is always where our treasure will be.

What better place to hide God’s word (Ps 119:11)!

CORE VALUES

2009-05-15T05:53:00.001-05:00

Philippians 1:21-24
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

From reading these verses we can see that Paul had struggled between two strong desires but settled in on his core value … living for Christ.

What are your lifelong goals? Freedom, self-respect, mature love, family security, true friendship, wisdom, equality, salvation …

What behavior do you pursue to achieve those goals? Being loving, independent, capable, broad-minded, honest, responsible, ambitious, forgiving, self-controlled, courageous …

Add your personal values to these lists. Once you have a list that you are comfortable with, start the struggle (like Paul). Rank each list … find if similar values rise to the top of each … write a short statement like Paul did which clearly expresses your core value.

You will be more effective in all areas of your life when you hold to a clearly understood core value.

WHERE IT COUNTS

2009-05-14T05:49:00.001-05:00

Matthew 6:1-4
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Teaching about Giving to the Needy

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Re-read Matthew 6:1. For whom do you do the things you do?

Others (the public) will see the things you do but it is not their observation … their admiration … which counts for eternity. It is your heavenly Father’s assessment and ultimate reward which really matters. Your motivation for doing the things you do should be to be pleasing in His eyes … not to please the eyes of men.

BIBLICAL VALUES

2009-05-13T05:41:00.001-05:00

Exodus 20:1-17
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.

Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community

1 Then God gave the people all these instructions:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You must not murder. 14 “You must not commit adultery. 15 “You must not steal. 16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

We look to the scriptures for moral values. The moral standards of scripture reflect God’s absolute and unchanging character.

The Ten Commandments begin with our relationship to God and end with our relationship to others. Righteousness is realized within the context of relationships and relates to our loving behavior toward God and others.

Only as we live by the power of the Spirit are we enabled to “put skin on” biblical values and make them real in our lives.

FRIENDSHIP

2009-05-12T06:03:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 12:26; 18:24; 22:24
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man,
do not associate with one easily angered,

God created humankind to be relational. By design, we are not made to live alone. We share this life with those who live around us and have the opportunity to choose those we call friends.

There is a neighbor I grew up with as a child. I haven’t seen him in years and we only communicate occasionally but I still count him among my friends. There are others whom I have met along life’s journey, brothers and sisters in Christ, who will forever hold a position on my friends list. And yet there are those who I once called friends but found them to be something less. Memories of them are painful. Yes, life holds memories of good friends and friends lost along the way.

The wisdom writer encourages care in the selection of friends. A wise selection … one based on godly values … will last.

Have you been careful in choosing your friends?