Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are Proverbs 29:5-8, which read, v.5 -  A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his steps. Simply put flattery is a trap.  Flattery has a hidden agenda.  Flattery is always covering up what is the true intent of the heart.  The flattery of this proverb has a man with the intent to trap or trip up his neighbor.  It is very far from the command to love our neighbor.  Flattery is speaking in a way to put the other off guard to later pull the rug out from under them.  Put this way we see that flattery is something we as Christians should not have as a part of our lives.  What are you saying to others that you really don't mean or that you are saying to get something in return?  You are playing Satan's game when you use flattery like he did many times to tempt others to disregard what God says because we are so great and deserve so much.  Satan spread the net out for Eve and Adam and he does the same for...

Today's verses are Proverbs 29:1-4, which read, v.1 -  A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy. Our proverbs today are about ruling or governing.  The first example is a ruler who is receiving reproof which could result in greater wisdom and God glorifying leadership but this one hardens his neck to it.  He has become stiff-necked.  He listens for a while but then shuts off his ears and refuses to implement what has been given to him.  Even though he has heard for awhile, he will fall because he is not walking in the wisdom.   This reminds me of all those who taste God through the church but never devour Him as the sole source of nourishment.  They know about God but they halt the process of bowing to Him as their one and only God.  They hear the correction but instead of heeding to it they rebel against with refusal that leads to a stubbornness that keeps them in a broken state before ...

Missed putting this up on Sunday.  Here is the question of sin in the New City Catechism.  As always, the music is from a group called Alathea.  Here is their website for more information:  www. alathea.com

Today I would like to talk about local church membership.  I have been teaching our annual membership class at the church and it has put me to reading through the book  "I Am A Church Member"  by Thom S. Rainer again.  We use this small book as a base to talk about what it means to be a biblical member.  I am always searching for additional material along with our constitution, bylaws, and history and I came across an article by John Divito titled  "Five Elements of a Church Membership Class"  but there are actually six that he names.  He gives them in the form of six questions to answer. 1.  Who should be a member of our church? Seems obvious but in church membership class you cannot assume that those coming already know and believe the gospel.  We have a lot of organizations that we are a part of so what makes this one different?  We devalue words and names so the title  "Christian"  can range from being a more ...

Today's verses are Proverbs 28:24-28, which read, v.24 -  He who robs his father or his mother and says, "It is not a transgression," is the companion of a man who destroys. Solomon ends out this section or chapter for us with some proverbs that I would call  "common sense"  couplets.  This first one reminds me of what the Pharisees were doing to their parents in Matthew 15:3-7a.  The Pharisees and scribes had a tradition to not provide for their parents because their resources were  "given to God"  and therefore not available but really it was just a slush fund for themselves.  Listen to Jesus expose this hypocrisy and compare to this proverb. He answered them, "Why do you break God's commandment because of your tradition?  For God said:  'Honor your father and your mother;' and 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.'  But you say, 'Whoever tells his father or mother, "Whatever ben...

Today's verses are Proverbs 28:19-23, which read, v.19 - He who tills his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty. We start with a man who is working the land.  He is at work providing food for himself, his family, and the community around him.  He is actively doing something that has shown in the past an increase that benefits others.  The second man is not working the land.  He is at work following something that doesn't have a track record.  It is not that you can't do something new but the description is the pursuit is empty, meaning it doesn't have even a future outlook to it.  This man will find himself in poverty even though he is living in the land of the plenty.   Does this proverb remind you of the parable Jesus told of the Prodigal Son?  Instead of working his father's land, the younger son asks for his inheritance and goes to a far off land to follow empty pursuits....

Today's verses are Proverbs 28:14-18, which read, v.14 - How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. The main message of Proverbs is to have a fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge.  We have someone who is doing this always.  This is someone who is in awe of who God is and blessed by God for doing so.  On the other side is the person who hardens his heart toward the Lord.  This one falls into calamity.  This one experiences the consequences of not following after God and not receiving the protection of His love.  His heart is given to someone else.   v.15 - Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. Solomon tells us about leaders in these next verses.  I would be afraid of a roaring lion and a rushing bear.  They would seem to be wanting to devour whatever is in front of them or what they are pursuing.  If you were wa...

Here is another installment of the radio broadcast.  These are taken from the questions in the New City Catechism.  Hope they help you have a start of a great day.  Adam

Today's verses are Proverbs 28:10-13, which read, v.10 -  He who leads the upright astray to an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit good. This proverb sounds very similar to Jesus words in Matthew 18:6, which reads, "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to fall away--it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea." I point this out because I want us to see that many of the Proverbs have other Biblical examples of them or quotations taken from their principles.  They are not just some pithy quotes to know but to apply.  Jesus then follows up this instruction with the parable of the lost sheep.  Instead of leading them away it is better to go out and find them if they have wandered away.  Those who seek instead of sever will inherit along with the rest of the family of God or the flock another child back to the f...