June 7, 2012

Consider Your Steps (6/7)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 13-15.

“The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.

“A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless” (Proverbs 14:15-16).

The wise and sensible man is compared to two different types of people: the naive and the fool. Both of these people end up in sin. The fool acts arrogantly, rejects the truth, and follows after that which is evil. The naive is simply ignorant of the truth and, as a result, ends up believing a false way that on the surface seems to be right. Where the naive and the fool are the same is that neither one is careful to be sure that what he does is right.
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June 5, 2012

Different Responses to Correction (6/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 7-9.

There will be times in which we need to correct someone who has fallen into sin. There will also be times in which we must be corrected for some sin we have committed. But unfortunately, not all correction is received as it ought to be. Consider the words of the wise man:

“He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked men gets insults for himself. 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 his learning” (Proverbs 9:7-9).

Solomon mentions two ways in which correction might be received:
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June 4, 2012

One Who Commits Adultery Lacks Sense (6/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Proverbs 4-6.

“Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; whoever touches her will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 6:27-29).

This is one of several passages in the book of Proverbs that warns against adultery. The number of times it is addressed should make us realize how dangerous this sin is. Besides that, we all know of cases of a person, often one we would not expect, who has gotten caught up in this sin.

The world will tell us it is alright to look and lust as long as we do not commit adultery. The Scriptures teach us not even to look and lust because this leads to adultery (cf. Matthew 5:28; James 1:14-16).
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June 1, 2012

What Is Lost Because of Sin

Satan tempts us to sin by highlighting its supposed benefits. The Scriptures acknowledge that there is a certain amount of pleasure that can be derived from sin. Yet Moses understood that such pleasure was “passing” and that the rewards for rejecting God could not compare with God’s rewards for the faithful (Hebrews 11:25-26). But Satan does not want us to look beyond what is immediately before us. He wants us to focus on the temporary pleasures we can gain from sin and ignore those things which we stand to lose because of sin.

What is it that we stand to lose because of sin? To answer this, let us consider what was lost in the beginning when sin was first introduced into the world.
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May 30, 2012

They Do No Unrighteousness (5/30)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 119:1-88.

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, and its theme is the word of God. David begins this psalm by telling of how blessed are the ones who keep God’s word.

“How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.

“How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.

“They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways” (Psalm 119:1-3)

The word of God guards us from sin. David acknowledges this a few verses later: “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). God gave us His word so that we could know the right way and follow it.
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May 29, 2012

The Lord Sees and Knows (5/29)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from 1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 37, 71, 94.

David begins Psalm 94 by asking God to take vengeance upon those who show their contempt for the Lord by abusing others.

“How long shall the wicked, O Lord, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; all who do wickedness vaunt themselves. They crush Your people, O Lord, and afflict Your heritage. They slay the widow and the stranger and murder the orphans. They have said, ‘The Lord does not see, nor does the God of Jacob pay heed’” (Psalm 94;3-7).

The oppressors that David describes believe they can mistreat others without penalty. As long as they have the ability to abuse others, they have no sense of morality that restrains them and no fear of God that would keep them from acting so wickedly. They believe that God will not see their actions; therefore, they are free to do as they please. However, David made it clear that this was not the case.
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May 24, 2012

“Keep Back Your Servant from Presumptuous Sins”

Psalm 19:13

The psalmist wrote, “Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me; then I will be blameless, and I shall be acquitted of great transgression” (Psalm 19:13). Presumptuous sins are those that we commit deliberately, acting without regard to God’s will. The problem with these sins is that we are often fooled into thinking that our presumptuous actions are works with which the Lord will be pleased. In this article, we will consider some common excuses for presumptuous sins, the danger of presumptuous sins, and how we can guard against presumptuous sins.
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