Troubled...yet not distressed

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken: cast down, but not destroyed;

Bro. Paul likely addressed this letter to the church in Corinth around AD 55 from Macedonia (in northern Greece), about one year after sending the first letter in I Corinthians.  His aim was to prepare the church for his upcoming arrival.

• What caused the Apostle to encourage so thoroughly after acknowledging the troubles found in this body of believers? 
• Who knew what "troubles, trials and persecutions" they were facing?

Bro. Paul knew that if God chose to give the gospel to perfect, invincible people, the world might credit the messenger. "Look what a strong person can accomplish!" BUT the Lord chose the weak. He chose the sick. He chose vessels so fragile, they crack. Why? So that when the gospel of the Lord Jesus transforms a life, heals the broken, raises the spiritually dead - everyone will know that such transforming power belongs to what (or Whom) the vessel carries.

Paul does not say we are not troubled. He is honest about the affliction. Troubled on every side. Perplexed. Persecuted. Cast down. But watch the second half of each clause: not distressed, not in despair, not forsaken, not destroyed. The affliction(s) are real. The breaking is real. But so is the refusal to break completely.

Personally, cast down but not destroyed has been a spiritual lifelong encouragement.  The words from the Master continue to remind this believer to "press on a little longer."  Then, daily devotions and meditating zeroed in on this part, troubled on every side, yet not distressed.  It seems the waiting for answered prayer(s) never ends.  Another verse for this weary heart joins todays meditation, Ps 57.7.  This believer could sincerely say if my heart were not fixed on God, I could not go on in Him.

It is the inclination of the flesh to cry "woe is me, why me, why them?"  "Why is their life better this way or that way?" "Why didn't I get this or that in my life?"  The inference in my mind is we are troubled on every side when we look around instead of up!  The old preacher said it this way, "I am looking for the Upper Taker not the undertaker."  

The point? Trust Him.  Lean on Him. (Pro 3.5-6)

To some, it seems either trouble comes in bunches, or trouble never seems to end. But it does.  He NEVER promised sunshine and roses and calm weather all the time.  Remember the stormy waves (Mk 4.39), the hungry multitude (Mt 14.13-21) and remember the dead man brought to life (Jn 11.43)?

Yes, it is duly noted in Job 14.1, Man that is born of a woman is of few days and FULL of trouble.

deeper and you will find an answer

Any preacher of the gospel that preaches "health and wealth" is a liar! We do enjoy such blessings of life from our Creator but more often than not burdens are ours to bear.  However, He also promised in Isa 41.10 to Fear thou not; for I  AM with thee...I WILL strengthen thee; I WILL help thee;...I WILL uphold thee with...MY righteousness.

Dear Saint, when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and LIFT UP your heads; (Why) for your redemption draweth nigh. (Lk 21.28)

All of life's troubles can be answered from His Word in one way or another. Remember, "no," "waiting" and no understanding of circumstances" ARE answers.  Wisely, it has been stated, "the best commentary on scripture is scripture."  

however, "no" is an answer too!

One more thing from the heart of one who suffered much in this life, 

• "There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still; with Jesus, even in our darkest moments, the best remains and the very best is yet to be."  Corrie ten Boom

Strong words about Gluttony

Or something else? 

The wise old king said in Proverbs 23.2-4, ...put a knife to thy throat, IF thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. And finally,  Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

Most folks refer to verse two when  discussing an appetite for food.  However, the Lord thru His servant, gave the word much more meaning.

As always, lets review a few definitions from Mr. Webster and Strong's Concordance:

Appetite can be defined several ways;

1. The natural desire of pleasure or good; the desire of gratification, either of the body or the mind. Appetites are passions directed to general objects such as fame, glory, riches, love, envy or gratitude.

1. 
   The most familiar definition would be a desire of food or drink; a painful sensation occasioned by hunger or thirst.
2. Strong desire; eagerness or longing. and lastly
3. The thing desired.

In Strong's Concordance H5315 an interesting meaning of the word is noted:

a breathing creature, i.e. an animal of vitality; or any creature that has a greedy food appetite.  Also, noted would be a lustful immoral man in mind or body, only wanting what gives pleasure.

To clarify, let's ask a simple question; What do you desire more than following God's will thru His Word?  We understand the verse in James 4.17 that states, Therefore to him that knoweth to  do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.  We are very familiar with the ten commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy. The Lord, Himself went further and said in Matthew 5.28 when one looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

The whole problem with a greedy appetite is to want what is not good for the soul, body, mind and spirit.

We are given much instruction in scripture of what to do and what not to do.  We are also admonished in the New Testament from Bro. Paul in Romans 7.19-25.  He warns of the consequences when we don't do what we know we should do.  This voracious, insatiable appetite of the flesh wars against the good thing.

So, when the wise man says to put a knife to thy throat, if thou a man given to appetite. What is he really telling us?  Well, in I Cor 15.31 Paul said I die daily.  It is a literal action to kill the spirit that wars against goodness and His will.  We've all been preached to regarding the death of the cross. (Phil 2.8)

The cross is a picture of death to the body.  This body must be in such subjection that it yields to the death (as shown in) the cross.  If the Lord Jesus loved so much about the best thing for His people that He laid down His own life, shouldn't we do the same?

Will you yield to your natural tendencies or spiritual ones?

God bless and keep you is this bloggers desire for you.

Ps 57.7

Old landmarks

 What is a landmark?

According to Mr. Webster, a landmark is...

a mark to designate the boundary of land; any mark or fixed object; as a marked tree, stone, ditch or heap of stones, by which the limits of a farm, town or other portion of territory may be known and preserved. In Deu 19.14 the wise man wrote thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's landmark. 

America

Another definition explains that in navigation, it could be an  elevated object on land that serves as a guide to seamen. 

France

The second definition is my favorite, "a guide."  

You probably recognize each landmark noted in the photos. Whether you ever actually visit them, odds are you would know the location without the captions.

So, you believe we do not need all the "old-fashioned" way of doing things?

It is understandable when a child begins to grow, mature and observe the world around him, "new" things and ideas may seem best.  

However, the "old" ways were once new.  

Israel

When one remembers Gen 1.1, in the beginning God... , there is a whole different "spin" on anything "new" one learns.

Australia

England

The wise man also told us in Proverbs 22.28, Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.  

without lady liberty

Then, the question becomes, "what would happen if one DID remove the ancient landmark?  For example, for 140 years the Statue of Liberty has stood to guide scores of people from other lands to our blessed country.  If "she" had not been there, what would they have seen looking at the photo to the right? Pretty unremarkable, right?  Since she has been a beacon of hope for those leaving impoverished lands, what would hope, then, look like? In a word, "bleak, even hopeless."

So we may conclude that, "landmarks are important."  

The Psalmist penned, by unction of the Holy Ghost, Thou are my rock and my fortress, therefore for Thy Names sake lead me, and guide me. (Psa 31.3) Then in 32.8 he says, I will guide thee with Mine eye. In 25.9 the Lord gives us, the meek will He guide in judgment...and teach His way. You have also heard this famous Psalm 119.105, Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Darkness and stumbling is all you would have left without Him as Light and Guide.

Many other verses could be quoted to indicate how important "landmarks" are.  Whatever, good things you've brought with you to this post, especially from the things of God, keep them.  Pass them on.

I've often quoted others before now while "gathering" landmark treasures. Such things as, 

• "grit with my grace," 
• "God gave us common sense." 
• "Locks are to keep the intruder out, not keep the occupant of the house in." 
• "Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." (Psa 150.6) "Put your hand on your tummy, if you are breathing, you should be praising.
• You believe all things work together for (your) good, don't you? (Rom 8.28) Then He is working it out for your good and His glory

So, you see, landmarks are important as guides in this wicked world.  

What landmarks have guided your life?

God bless and take care, dear reader.

Foolishness

Foolishness is bound in he heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (Pro 22.15)

Don't spank him but correct him unless this is the third time!

Was he told not to play with the ball in the house?
Correction must follow.

For the preaching of the cross is the that perish foolishness: but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (I Cor 1.18)

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1.22)

The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. (Psa 5.5)

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God...(Psa 14.1)

Webster says that a fool is "one destitute of reason or the common powers of understanding."  A fool could also be described as one somewhat deficient of intellect or acts absurdly without reason but is not necessarily an idiot. In scripture, fool is often used for a wicked or depraved person who acts contrary to sound wisdom or moral deportment.

When examining the first verse noted in Pro 22.15 regarding foolishness, one could compare the lack of training in a child to that of an immature or disobedient believer.

Children simply do not know better, usually, when caught in a foolish act.  Instruction that "The stove is hot" means nothing until that little hand touches the hot stove eye and realizes what the grownup said was true!  Do they learn better?  Sometimes it takes a few burnt hands to understand the truth. As baby, juvenile and immature believers, sometimes it take a long time to realize what God said in His Word about sin in any form, is true! 

Did God mean what He said?

When we disobey, repeatedly, what we are really admitting is found in Psa 14.1; There is no God... We would never utter the phrase out loud but often our behavior says exactly that.  One may think "I know stealing is wrong BUT the office will never miss a pen, a paperclip, or a sheet of paper." What we are conceding is that "God didn't really mean what He said when He told Moses to write, thou shalt not steal in Exo 20.15 and Jesus did not mean it when He told the rich young ruler the same thing in Mat 19.18. When one recalls this the very first untruth, yes, an outright lie, spoken by the devil himself in the Garden of Eden in Gen 3.1.  He saw the woman looking and lusting after the forbidden thing and said, yea hath God said...?  In other words, "God did not really mean it when He instructed not to eat of this tree."

All sin and misbehavior begins when the truth of the Holy Word of God is questioned.  It's been said to this blogger that "you're just a little soldier when doing as the preacher preached, aren't you."  The  reply was, "we are soldiers in the Lord's army."  It is never wrong to do right.  It is always wrong to disobey.

You know better, don't you?  So, when presented with a "no-no," will you respond with righteousness or foolishness?

God bless and keep you is my prayer.  Ps 57.7

Proverbs...

Since current, personal devotions have been in Proverbs, we will attempt to share the understanding gained from the wisest man God ever graced with wisdom.

Wisdom

• (W1828)    - the right use or exercise of knowledge. 
• (Strong's)   - (H2451) in a good sense, skillful, wisely, wit. (G4678) higher or lower, worldly or spiritual (G4680) clear
• Pro 1.1-3  King Solomon states what he received from the Lord this way;
• The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

All of the definitions noted above point to one thought: "One may have knowledge without having wisdom."  If knowledge is not used "clearly, skillfully, with good sense," it is, in fact probably not going to help in any way that pleases the Lord.  

The King goes on to explain good use of wisdom; proceeding to verses 4-9, it would be prudent to examine what the King, thru the unction of the Holy Spirit, is saying to his audience.

1. After admonishing one to wisdom in verse 3 we are instructed in v 4 to give subtilty (to tell the young ones and simple ones to 'pay attention.)
2. Then, in verse 5 quite simply stated is that a wise man will hear...and...attain unto wise counsels: It is a personal conviction that the individual has an inner voice directing the soul to 
   
   wise counsel.
3. Verse six sums up that when one hears...wise counsel (v5) there will be understanding. The soul, whether saved or unsaved, has a distinct unction from the Creator of all things, as to what is right or wrong.  Saying "I don't understand or I don't know which way to go," is usually just an excuse to do what one prefers to do. 
4. Verse seven further underscores where real knowledge is gained, the fear of the Lord. It is also pretty clear who will not yield to fear of the Lord - FOOLS! Again, it is this believers conviction that most souls have an inner sense of right and wrong.  It is the Lord's will whether to draw them to Himself or not.
5. Verse eight spoon feeds the soul on the source for wisdom and knowledge. When one will hear the instruction of (the) father and forsake not the law of (the) mother (in most cases the parents want to teach the children right), then wisdom begins to take root from knowledge of those who have "been there, done that."

The crown jewel, quite literally when knowledge is gained in the right way and used as instructed is this:  they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head.

Let's recap. Wisdom is this;

1. pay attention
2. listen
3. listen
4. go to church and hear preaching about HIM.
5. do as you are told by the ones gone before you.

God bless and keep you as you ponder your need for knowledge and wisdom.