Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
June 2002
June 2, 2002
Read Proverbs 2:1-6. Then, focusing on Proverbs 2:6, it
reminds us that "The Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge
and understanding."
We all have our list of important things, things which
are valuable to us, things which, in one way or another define who we
really are, what we're all about, where we're really headed. For many
of us, most of our list could not be legitimately placed within the context
of this verse because while they are important to us, and, while the Lord
certainly could give us whatever is on our list, they are not necessarily
priority issues with Him when He looks at our lives and the real needs
He sees we have. Think for a moment how you life could be changed if you
were wiser in His wisdom and spoke with greater, biblical knowledge and
understanding.
Father, I confess that my list of 'wants' and 'needs'
and 'important items' probably wouldn't pass Your priority test. Replace
my self-focused list with Your wisdom, that I might BE wise and speak
with (Your) knowledge and (Your) understanding. Amen.
June 4, 2002
Proverbs 5:21 says, "The Lord sees clearly what a man
does, examining every path he takes."
God's all-seeing eyes, teamed up with His omniscience
(He knows all) and omnipotence (He has all power), are really "our friends",
contrary to how careless Christians may wish to see them and know Him.
He clearly sees and knows what a person does, and accurately comprehends
the motive(s) behind it. So, whether our acts or thoughts are sinful or
righteous, His instant internal examination and immediate holy conclusion,
communicated to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, should be of major
value to every walking-in-the-Spirit Christian......to keep us honest,
open, and "on the straight and narrow", as they say. (Galatians 5:22,23)
Father, we confess our frequent displeasure at Your
infinite ability to see, know, and accurately determine the true worth
of our activities from an eternal perspective. Teach us to not fear the
light of Your presence (John 3:20,21) nor to resist the love behind Your
gentle rebukes. Through Jesus our worthy Savior, we pray. Amen.
June 8, 2002
Proverbs 8:6 "Listen, for I have worthy things to
say; I open my lips to speak what is right."
The text informs us that 'wisdom' is the speaker. Have you found many
people around you (or you yourself) who could legitimately say they always
have 'worthy' things to say; that whenever they open their mouth, 'right'
and 'righteousness' come forth? I long for that kind of wisdom for me,
for you and for the entire church of Jesus Christ. But, considering all
the divorces, the lawsuits, the fights, the arguments, church splits,
and the general 'warfare' that constantly goes on among 'Christians',
one legitimately wonders if not too many of us are really listening to
and receiving the wisdom of God through His Word.
Father, In wisdom You call out to us all the time (8:1-5). We regret,
however, that we're often "out to lunch", too busy with our
own agendas, or fighting our own 'wars'. So we miss Your wisdom which
we desperately need for our daily lives. Please, in Your great mercy,
forgive us. And, in Your great grace, teach us and make us to be wise
and worthy Christians who bring honor to You and not shame to Your holy
name. Amen.
June 11, 2002
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) says "The generous prosper and
are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
Neither material nor spiritual nor evangelistic stinginess has ever 'worked'
for anyone in the long run. God Himself is characterized by generosity;
so those who are authentically His children will also bear His likeness
in deed and word. The widespread dissatisfaction among Christians today
is directly linked, I personally believe, to our withholding of the great
'wealth' with which God has blessed us Christians. What a shame we don't
experience more often the blessing of 'refreshing others'!
Precious Father, our corporate and personal stinginess must greatly
sadden your generous heart. Help us to see the vast difference between
the 'prosperity' we think we have and the 'prosperity' we could have if
we were more generous in obedience to your Holy Spirit. Through Jesus,
our generous Savior, we plead. Amen.
June 13, 2002
Proverbs 13:1 says "A wise son heeds his father's
instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke."
Gracious parental instruction (see Pr. 22:6) coupled with equally gracious
and fair discipline are indispensable partners in keeping our children
from the path of mockery, which is a combination of derision, bragging,
and making ugly facial expressions. (sound or look familiar??) Our frustration
(anger) and failure to deal with our children's rebellion in a consistent,
biblical, and godly fashion will "come back to haunt" us. You
can take God's Word on it!
Father, forgive us parents for the many times WE have refused to listen
to Your gentle rebukes. Teach us to be godly parents. Instruct us by Your
Spirit that we might faithfully instruct our children. We long to be among
the very few (comparatively speaking) who are 'good parents' in today's
world. Humbly we cry out this prayer to you in Jesus' name. Amen.
June 15, 2002
Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but harsh words stir up anger."
James 3:5 (NLT) says, "the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous
damage it can do!"
The missionary, Martin Burnham, who died just a week ago during the military
attempt to rescue him and his wife Gracia, took these biblical principles
to heart. Gracia says "Martin was highly respected by every one of
the ASG (their captors). He always graciously offered to carry things
for the ASG and for the other hostages. He was chained to a tree at night
by an ASG guard. Every night for the whole year he was a hostage, Martin
would thank the guard who chained him and wished him a good night."
We say, "and he died for that?!" Yes. In the divine economy,
where harsh words would appear to have been 'very natural', gracious and
gentle words of love and concern were spoken instead. Think of the powerful
testimony that those captors will never forget - of someone who, by God's
grace alone, responded 'unnaturally' during unbelievable duress.
Father of ultimate deliverance, thank you for Martin's gracious testimony
of kindness when anger would seem to have been 'appropriate' or naturally
expected. Convict the hearts of his ex-captors as they remember his gentleness.
And, Father, forgive our hastiness to argue and speak harshly to our spouses,
children, friends, or antagonistic people around us. Give us tender, responsive
hearts and gentle, gracious tongues, that Jesus may be truly seen (and
heard!) in us. Amen
June 17, 2002
Proverbs 17:15 says " Acquitting the guilty and condemning
the innocent - the Lord detests them both." (See also 18:5 and 24:23-25)
I think of the abortion issue when reading this, though the application
is surely much broader. How many millions of innocents have been 'condemned'
and then murdered because of the utter selfishness of those who will not
take responsibility for their sinful actions! A time of reckoning is coming,
make no mistake about it! Meanwhile, it is important for us to pray for,
share with, teach, and testify to others of the immeasurable kindness
of an incredibly merciful God Who forgives past sins and offers new life
with the corresponding ability and wisdom to make decisions in the future
which will honor Him and promote His righteousness rather than man's unrighteousness.
Father in heaven, we long for the time when righteousness will truly
rule on earth. Until that day, may we detest what You detest. May we hate
sin and love righteousness. May we live in such a way that we ourselves
do not ignore the guilt of sins we commit, but that we humbly confess
them as sin (not boo-boos or mistakes) and seek to live in obedience to
Your Word and Your will. Amen.
June 20, 2002
Proverbs 20:11 says: "Even a child is known by his
actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right."
We can talk all we want about how pure or righteous we are; but nothing
reveals the real truth like our conduct. Actions which expose sins such
as hatred, lust, and selfishness tell the real story about who we really
are. That goes for our children as well as for us adults. The song writer
once wrote, "What you are speaks so loud that the world can't hear
what you say. They're looking at your walk, not listening to your talk;
they're judging from your actions every day. Don't believe you'll deceive
by claiming what you've never known. They'll accept what they see, and
know you to be (just that); they'll judge from your life alone."
Father in heaven, keep us from the deceit of hypocrisy. May our actions
reveal Your presence in us and the clear evidence of Your Spirit at work
in us to make us more like Your Son, Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.
June 24, 2002
Proverbs 24:3,4 (NLT) say "A house is built by wisdom
and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are
filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables."
What we know to be strong, godly marriages, families, businesses or churches
don't just 'happen'; they are wisely designed, planned, and built through
God's careful direction, with His holy purposes in mind, and His glory
the unchanging goal. That is, they are intentionally governed by that
wisdom which is greater than us all: God's wisdom. That's why they're
strong. The good sense which God's Word gives guards them against 'dumb'
considerations and decisions. And the knowledge gained by humble, consistent
obedience to God's ways reveals within those marriages, families, businesses,
or churches the precious riches of their true beauty and the substantive
value of their inner strength....."Christ in you" (Col. 1:27).
Father in heaven, we confess our proneness to foolishness and unwise
reflection, which has only weakened who we are or what we inwardly hope
to be. May Your grace and mercy, poured out through your unbounding forgiveness,
turn our hearts toward You and Your wisdom, that we might become all You
intended us to be. Amen.
June 27, 2002
Proverbs 27:12 (NLT) says, "A prudent person foresees
the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on
and suffers the consequences."
There appears to be a great lack of prudence in today's world. Few seem
to look ahead and weigh the consequences of their actions. Instead, "If
it feels good, do it!" is the prevailing argument. Or, "If it
makes me a lot of money, it's ok!" Or, "If the end result is
better than what I'm feeling right now, I'll do it!" Then, when the
consequences of our carelessness come, God is the One Who gets the blame.
"He's unfair; He's cruel, unloving, or 'hard to please'!"
Father, grant to us the prudence and wisdom needed to foresee the consequences
of our potential decisions and actions and to choose to please You rather
than ourselves. Let us choose substance, truth, and faithfulness to Christ
rather than personal satisfaction. Thank you in advance for the joy and
peace it will bring to our hearts by so doing! Amen.
June 29, 2002
Proverbs 30:5,6 says "Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
There are those who set themselves up for God's rebuke by attempting to
make His Word say what they want it to say, and not what He is simply
and plainly communicating. Do we believe His Word to be flawless, without
error in the original? Do we believe it to be totally sufficient (II Timothy
3:16) for our every need and adequate for our every problem (II Peter
1:3)? Do we trust His Word to be absolutely accurate in it's honest assessment
of who we really are and in it's clear instruction of how we can truly
please Him? Do we frequently 'add' to or 'detract' from His Word by making
adjustments that are more favorable to our less-than-righteous lives?
Father in heaven, we take refuge in You and in Your holy Word. We ask
You to shield us from the temptation to make the Bible say something other
than what You intended. Please forgive our ignorance, our arrogance, and
our foolishness in this respect. Grant us faith to implicitly trust the
truth of Your Word and to allow it to work flawlessly and powerfully within
our stubborn hearts and lives. Humbly we pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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