Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Seek Wisdom" by Rebecca Thesman for Thursday, 17 November 2016 with Scripture: Proverbs 2:12-22
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"Seek Wisdom" by Rebecca Thesman
Proverbs 2:12 They will save you from the way of evil
and from those who speak deceitfully,
13 who leave the paths of honesty
to walk the ways of darkness,
14 who delight in doing evil
and take joy in being stubbornly deceitful,
15 from those whose tracks are twisted
and whose paths are perverse.
16 They will save you from a woman who is a stranger,
from a loose woman with smooth talk,
17 who abandons the ruler she had in her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God.
18 Her house is sinking toward death,
her paths lead to the dead.
19 None who go to her return;
they never regain the path to life.
20 Thus you will walk on the way of good people
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
the pure-hearted will remain there;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
the unfaithful rooted out of it.
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When I think of wisdom, I picture a mature person who has learned how to merge knowledge with experience, one who has lived a full life and tried to make wise choices based on Scripture. However, in order to make wise choices, we must weigh each decision through the lens of good and evil. Sometimes, that isn’t easy. What used to be black and white now seems a dull gray.
Wisdom includes thinking about the consequences of an action. If I make this choice, then this particular action will result. If I go the other direction, the result will be different. Every choice will have a result, a consequence.
The writer of Proverbs reminds us to listen carefully to the underlying meaning of what people say. If someone delights in doing wrong, that person is not seeking wisdom. The results will be tragic.
If we follow the example of wise people and live our lives thinking about how we can help others and please God, then we are promised a good life. A clean conscience is wonderful gift. Wise people live so that the results of their choices will leave no regrets.
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Hymn for Today: "Look and Live: by William A. Ogden
1. I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!
The message unto you I’ll give;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live.
Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live.
2. I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah!
A message, O my friend for you;
’Tis a message from above, Hallelujah!
Jesus said it and I know ’tis true.
Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live
3. Life is offered unto you, Hallelujah!
Eternal life your soul shall have,
If you only look to Him, Hallelujah!
Look to Jesus who alone can save.
Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live
4. I will tell you how I came, Hallelujah!
To Jesus, when He made me whole;
’Twas believing on His name, Hallelujah!
I trusted and He saved my soul.
Refrain:
Look and live, O sinner, live,
Look to Jesus now and live;
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you look and live
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Thought for Today: 2 Corinthians 7:10 Pain handled in God’s way produces a turning from sin to God which leads to salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that! But pain handled in the world’s way produces only death.
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Please Pray: For the ministry of caring for widows and orphans in Mesoamerica.
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "If and Then" by Rebecca Thesman for Wednesday, 16 November 2016 with Scripture: Proverbs 2:1-11
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"If and Then" by Rebecca Thesman
Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you will receive my words
and store my commands inside you,
2 paying attention to wisdom
inclining your mind toward understanding —
3 yes, if you will call for insight
and raise your voice for discernment,
4 if you seek it as you would silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure —
5 then you will understand the fear of Adonai
and find knowledge of God.
6 For Adonai gives wisdom;
from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up common sense for the upright,
is a shield to those whose conduct is blameless,
8 in order to guard the courses of justice
and preserve the way of those faithful to him.
9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice,
fairness and every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
knowledge will be enjoyable for you,
11 discretion will watch over you,
and discernment will guard you.
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Proverbs 2 might be subtitled, “The If–Then Promise.” The first four verses take the form of a proposition, beginning with “If,” followed by “then” in verse 5.
These guidelines include several basic principles of life. If we accept God’s words, if we store up His commands, if we turn our ears to wisdom, if we apply our hearts to understanding, if we call out for insight, and so on. After we do these “ifs,” then we will understand the fear of the Lord. Then we will find the knowledge of God.
Furthermore, God will give us victory to live blameless lives. He will protect us, since we have been faithful to complete the “If” section. We then begin to understand more about walking with God in an intimate way, and trust Him to guide us during those seasons when we don’t understand what’s happening.
Ultimately, if we apply these principles, then we will have the discretion we need to make wise choices. And a side effect will be a better understanding of how our hearts and lives are guarded and protected by the God of "The If-Then Promise."
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Hymn for Today: "Nearer, Still Nearer" by Lelia N. Morris
1. Nearer, still nearer, close to thy heart,
draw me, my Savior, so precious thou art.
Fold me, O fold me close to thy breast;
shelter me safe in that haven of rest,
shelter me safe in that haven of rest.
2. Nearer, still nearer, nothing I bring,
naught as an offering to Jesus my King -
only my sinful, now contrite heart;
grant me the cleansing thy blood doth impart,
grant me the cleansing thy blood doth impart.
3. Nearer, still nearer, Lord, to be thine,
sin, with its follies, I gladly resign,
all of its pleasures, pomp and its pride,
give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified,
give me but Jesus, my Lord crucified.
4. Nearer, still nearer, while lift shall last,
till safe in glory my anchor is cast;
through endless ages, ever to be
nearer, my Savior, still nearer to thee,
nearer, my Savior, still nearer to thee.
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Thought for Today: Galatians 3:29 Also, if you belong to the Messiah, you are seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise.
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Please Pray: For the child development programs that minister to children in Mesoamerica.
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Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Revenge Solves Nothing" by Rebecca Thesman for Tuesday, 15 November 2016 with Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:15-29
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"Revenge Solves Nothing" by Rebecca Thesman
2 Samuel 13:15 But then he was filled with utter revulsion for her — his hatred of her was even greater than the love he had had for her before. Amnon said to her, “Get up, and get out of here!” 16 “No,” she objected, “because throwing me out like this is an even worse thing than what you’ve already done to me!” But he wouldn’t listen to her; 17 he called his personal servant and said, “Get rid of this woman for me! Throw her out, and lock the door after her!” 18 She was wearing a long-sleeved robe (this was how they used to dress the king’s daughters who were virgins). His servant took her out and locked the door after her. 19 Tamar put ashes on her head, tore her long-sleeved robe that she was wearing, laid her hand on her head and went off, crying aloud as she went.
20 Avshalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now, my sister, keep quiet; because he’s your brother. Don’t take the matter to heart.” But Tamar remained desolate in her brother Avshalom’s house.
21 When King David heard about all these things, he became very angry. 22 As for Avshalom, he refused to say a word to Amnon, either good or bad; for Avshalom hated Amnon for having raped his sister Tamar.
23 Two years later, when Avshalom had sheep-shearers in Ba‘al-Hatzor, near Efrayim, Avshalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 Avshalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has sheep-shearers; please let the king and his servants come along with your servant.” 25 The king replied to Avshalom, “No, my son, let’s not all go — we don’t want to be a burden to you.” Avshalom pressed him, but he wouldn’t go; however he gave him his blessing. 26 Then Avshalom said, “If you won’t go, then please let my brother Amnon go with us.” The king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Avshalom kept pressing him, so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him.
28 Avshalom ordered his servants, “Pay close attention: when Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine, and I say to you, ‘Kill Amnon,’ then strike him down. Don’t be afraid — I’m the one ordering you to do it — but take courage, and be bold.” 29 Avshalom’s servants did to Amnon as Avshalom had ordered. At this, all the king’s sons jumped up, mounted their mules and fled.
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“It isn’t fair,” my client cried. “He abused me and got away with it. Where is the justice?” She was correct. Her boyfriend had emotionally abused her and destroyed their relationship, but when she asked for justice, it was a matter of hearsay. Her boyfriend refused to admit the truth.
The only thing I could say was, “God is just, and in the end your boyfriend will have to stand before God and explain what he has done to you. You can stay far away from him and guard your heart, but ultimately we have to leave the outcome to God"
Amnon sinned against his sister, Tamar, and justice should have been carried out. King David should have disciplined his son. Yet, for whatever reason, that did not happen. So her brother Absalom took it on himself to carry out the judgment, but only after two years had passed.
Absalom carried that vengeance in his heart for two long years and waited for the perfect opportunity to plot his brother’s murder. That hard place of bitterness and vengeance surely destroyed Absalom’s peace and affected his relationship with God.
No matter what happens to us, vengeance is not our responsibility.
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Hymn for Today: "Deeper and Deeper" by Oswald J. Smith
1. Into the heart of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Seeking to know the reason
Why He should love me so -
Why He should stoop to lift me
Up from the miry clay,
Saving my soul, making me whole,
Tho I had wandered away.
2. Into the will of Jesus,
Deeper and deeper I go,
Praying for grace to follow,
Seeking His way to know;
Bowing in full surrender
Low at His blessed feet,
Bidding Him take, break me and make,
Till I am molded and meet.
3. Into the cross of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Following thru the garden,
Facing the dreaded foe;
Drinking the cup of sorrow -
Sobbing with broken heart,
"O Savior, help! dear Savior, help!
Grace for my weakness impart."
4. Into the joy of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Rising, with soul enraptured,
Far from the world below;
Joy in the place of sorrow,
Peace in the midst of pain,
Jesus will give, Jesus will give -
He will uphold and sustain.
5. Into the love of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Praising the One who brought me
Out of my sin and woe;
And thru eternal ages
Gratefully I shall sing,
"O how He loved! O how He loved!
Jesus, my Lord and my King!"
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Thought for Today: Romans 12:19 Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to God’s anger; for in the Tanakh it is written,
“Adonai says, ‘Vengeance is my responsibility; I will repay.’”[Romans 12:19 Deuteronomy 32:41]
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Please Pray: For those ministering in media to communicate the Gospel in Mesoamerica.
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