From: December 5, 2024
“Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath” (Proverbs 29:8 ESV).
A timely word from the book of Proverbs for today. For it highlights the difference between the scoffer and the wise. The scoffer is one who mocks, ridicules, or scorns a person or an idea. When they encounter disunity and disagreement in a city or a nation or a church, instead of trying to calm the discontent, they add to it with jest and jeering. Instead of acting to extinguish the smoldering tempers around them, their riotous rhetoric fans it into open flame. A scoffer stirs up trouble.
The scoffer will incite rioting and destruction in a city, but the wise look for solutions without anger. They sensibly inspire others to calm down and take steps towards solving problems. The wise are not given to anger, but actually help bring peace to angry situations.
Unfortunately, human nature is much more susceptible to the scoffer than to the sensible. It’s hard to hear the quiet voice of reason over the screeching volume of the one who ridicules. Yet, those who follow Christ are called to be peacemakers and to patiently work at reconciliation. They are to continually pray and sensibly speak in order to turn away the wrath that would burn their city or family, or church, or nation to the ground.
PRAYER: Dear Father, help us to be wise and to calm the angry, offering Your peace to all. Deliver our families, churches, towns, and nation from the scoffers who stir up trouble. Help us to resist joining in the anger and to be peacemakers. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 5, 2023
“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him” (1 John 5:14 NLT).
Because we are in Christ we now have confidence that the Father will hear and answer our prayers. For this reason Hebrews teaches us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). And the apostle Paul writes that in Christ “we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:12).
In Christ, we are God’s children. Everything that is Christ’s, is now ours. The currency of the kingdom is asking. As James taught, “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2). And as Jesus taught, let us, “Ask, seek, knock” (Matt. 7:7-8). So, ask!
Yet, let us pray according to God’s will, for this is how Christ Himself prayed, saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done” (Luke 22:42). For when we pray according to God’s will, we can be confident that He will give us what we ask.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are learning to ask You for what we need. Help us to learn to wait on You, rather than worrying. Strengthen us to follow You in all things this day. For our confidence is in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 5, 2022
KNOWING THAT CHRIST HAS COME
In his first epistle, the apostle John wrote of what we can know because of Christ’s coming. For as John wrote in his gospel, Christ is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). If you want to know God, look to Jesus. He is God revealed to us in the flesh. Therefore, knowing that the Christ, the Son of God, has come, we are given further knowledge and understanding through Him, so that we can actually know God.
Do you want to know God? First know Jesus. Know that He is the Son of God who came into the world to die for our sins and was raised for our justification that we might know God as Father.
This is what our Christmas celebrations are to be about, namely knowing that the Son of God has come! This knowledge changes everything.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we know that Christ has come. We are always thankful for this, but especially during this Christmas season. For it is through Christ that we have come to truly know You as our Father. And it is by that knowing Christ has come that we know to watch and wait for His soon return. Until then, strengthen us to tell others this Good News that they might know You too. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: December 5, 2016
Many search for the fountain of youth. Yet, eternal life is not found in a fountain, nor a serum or medical procedure. It is found in Christ alone. Eternal life is in the Son of God. He is the Son that was given “unto us” (Isa. 9:7). He is the “only begotten” that God has given (John 3:16). Do you wonder how to know whether you have eternal life? Do you have the Son? Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Got Jesus? Got life!
From: December 5, 2015
God called the prophet Hosea to illustrate Israel’s idolatry by taking a harlot for a wife. Another detail of God’s character was here revealed. His love for Israel is like a husband’s jealous love (Exclusive love, not like the world’s jealousy). And when Israel worshiped other gods or burned incense to the baals, it was as adultery against God. Yet, God’s mercy and forgiveness are also revealed, in that He had plans to buy His people back from adultery. So, He had Hosea go and do the same (Hos. 3:2). God did all this so that in the “latter days” the children of Israel would return and seek the Messiah, which is Christ the Lord (“David their king”). This is still an unfulfilled prophecy, but a day is coming when a great revival will occur among the Jews and many will finally receive Christ as their Messiah.
From: December 5, 2014
A timely word from the book of Proverbs for today. Is your goal to “agitate” others with that which has agitated you? Or is it your desire to “calm” others with wisdom, so that the truth of the matter may be revealed? The mocker will incite rioting and destruction in the streets, but the wise will look for solutions without anger. The former may be considered more newsworthy, but the latter will actually take steps towards solving problems.