I am a product of the '80's (meaning I was born in that decade) and married to the most beautiful woman I know since 2009 (beautiful in appearance and as a woman of God). I graduated in the spring of 2013 from Grand Canyon University with a Christian Leadership major and in 2016 with a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Math, and now I am a student at Grand Canyon Theological Seminary. Also, most importantly, Jesus saved me ... and you.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. -Proverbs 22:28, KJV
I am fairly certain I fall under the Evangelical Christian label, so there may be some who will try to change that label based on what I have to say today.
Based on this verse, do not neglect tradition!
“Wait,” you may say, “you sound like a high-liturgy (i.e. Lutheran or Presbyterian) Christian or even Roman Catholic.”
Well, I reply, there is nothing inherently wrong with tradition. As a product of the Reformation, I do believe in Sola Scriptura, Scripture Alone.
With this, what I mean is that traditions that do not contradict Scripture nor distract people from Christ are to be honored.
Besides, many creeds and theological truths were cemented in Church history. They have become ingrained in our traditions. They are snippets of truth that have been hashed out by our spiritual predecessors. To ignore and forget them …
… well, look at the state of the Church today. There is widespread theological confusion and ecclesiastical animosity.
Translation: we cannot agree about God and the Bible, and we distrust those we should call brothers and sisters in Christ.
Because we “remove the ancient landmarks” the Church fathers set.
This does not mean blind faith in old teachings. Study and think through why we believe these teachings. (i.e. The canon of Scripture, the Trinity, Heaven and Hell, etc.)
To ignore what has historically come before leads to what we see today and failing to live as one as Jesus and the Father are one (John 17:22-23).
Also, please enjoy more of the old hymns! They are often so rich in truth!
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. -Proverbs 21:18 KJV
I see two ways the wicked can be a ransom for the righteous and the transgressor for the upright.
First, the fulfillment of “you reap what you sow.”
Think of Haman from the book of Esther, who hoped to hang Mordecai, but was instead hung on the very gallows he had built.
Or the men who tried to trap Daniel and were themselves thrown into his pit of lions to be devoured.
In other words, if you plan evil against someone, you may very well find yourself suffering that fate.
Secondly, the ransom is not the payment but the prize.
Think of the kidnapped child. The “ransomed child” is paid for and redeemed.
(You probably see where this is going …)
Jesus Christ is the only truly righteous and upright One, and He sacrificed Himself for our ransom. Praise be to God that we wicked transgressors are the ransomed of Christ.
Likewise, we should go out and be willing to sacrifice everything to bring others to the knowledge of our Great Redeemer.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. -Proverbs 21:13, KJV
I have pretty much always been a compassionate person. There was a time, however, when I followed a party line and believed the poor must have done something to deserve it.
This is especially crazy knowing my family went through a time when we almost ended up homeless, wondering if there was enough food to feed the five of us each day.
Personal Rebuke
But God sent me a bit of a rebuke, and in late 2007 through early 2008 I spent most nights on the streets of metro-area Phoenix. If you can not learn more compassion for others when alongside them, you are truly hard of heart.
I was fortunate (though my parents worried like crazy), but others may not be.
Throughout Scripture, God sets His expectation for His people: to love the widows, orphans, and the poor.
In the literal understanding, help those who do not have enough. This is loving your neighbor.
Deeper Cries
The deeper understanding is to help those who are spiritually poor. Help them find the truth of who Christ is. Feed their spirit and mind with God’s Word.
To not do so is to condemn them – and yourself – to eternal death and judgment, to cries of the poor who will never find rest. That is why to ignore the cries of the poor will lead to your own crying that will not be heard.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. -Proverbs 21:21, KJV
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. -Proverbs 21:21, ESV
Sometimes I feel like all I do is repeat myself.
But with the words of Life, it is good and proper to have things repeated.
Case in point, there is only one way to find righteousness, and it is summed up in the [two] Greatest Commandment[s]:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
Luke 10:27
Jesus also tells us,
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness
Matthew 6:33a
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6
If you truly desire life, righteousness, and honor, seek God through Christ. It is His righteousness gifted to us through His sacrifice on the cross and imputed by the Holy Spirit that brings these rewards.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord , searching all the inward parts of the belly. -Proverbs 20:27, KJV
In Matthew 5, Jesus said we Christians are the light of the world who should let that light shine by doing good works that bring others to the Lord.
Now, many people attempt to do good works without bothering to include God, both Christians and non-Christians.
Isaiah was the one who reminded us that our works done apart from God are … *ahem* … dirty rags. (64:6. Ask your pastor if you do not know the full meaning of “dirty rags”.)
What does all of this have to do with Proverbs 20:27?
The light within us is God, the one who sustains our lives, even when we are living apart from His ways. In both Jeremiah (31:33) and Hebrews we are told that in these last days God has written His Law on our minds and hearts.
One way of looking at this is that He has seared our conscience with what is right. We “instinctively know” what is right and wrong.
Yet, when we do not live in accordance with His Spirit, even our best intentions are tainted by our selfish, sinful desires and actions.
It is when you get that feeling in the pit of your stomach that something is not right. So, when God searches our “inward parts of the belly” (i.e. our hearts), He can see our selfish, sinful leanings.
But He also regenerates our hearts and minds by His Spirit to do truly good, God-honoring and glorifying works.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. -Proverbs 20:12, KJV
There are two main things this verse tells us:
We can know the Creator God is watching over us and listening to us, for he created us with the ability interact with our surroundings.
We should be thankful to and give glory to God for our ability to interact with each other, our world, and God.
Please take note of how this has been worded: interact with.
Why?
I can hear the arguments from others, “But what about those who can’t see or hear?” And these arguments can include the question of suffering.
A) We must remember that we live in a fallen world, corrupted and tainted by our sin. Sometimes, people lose some ability to interact in this world, and we have no one to blame but ourselves (humanity, not necessarily the individual, say, the one who was abused).
B) Sometimes God ordains a malady to bring glory to Himself by bringing someone to faith. Look at those Jesus healed during His earthly ministry.
But, again, read the first two points! The fact that we inherently are able to interact with others including our God who knows us, we should be moved to worship!
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8
A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. –Proverbs 20:19 NIV
Innocent Excitement
Growing up we knew not to tell my sister exciting news that needed to be kept secret (like presents for people). Likewise, my wife hates secrets and surprises, because she wants to tell others. They just love seeing people get excited.
The verse today is not about people like them, who innocently want to bring people joy. (But if you want to surprise someone, you might have to surprise people like my sister and wife, as well!)
Babblers
Other translations use the word “babbler” instead of “anyone who talks too much.”
These are the people who simply have no filter, feel the need to incessantly talk, or, worse, like causing trouble or even harm.
It tends to be easy to find them. They may be the only person you told something to, like the coworker you told you might be getting a raise, and now everyone knows (and may be jealous). It could be at church, when someone reveals “dirt” or offers a “prayer request” that takes five minutes to explain the nitty-gritty details.
As for you, simply be someone that can be trusted. Be the crying shoulder and listening ear, the confidante that others rely on.
Which type of person are you?
Do you get too excited sometimes?
Do you blab and undermine?
Or do you know how to hold your tongue and maintain confidence and trust?
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. -Proverbs 20:29, KJV
I have always wanted gray (or even white) hair.
I know. I am fairly odd.
I have three friends who all went white-haired in their twenties. A few others were noticeably gray by 25.
As for yours truly, I have earned a few gray hairs over my few short years.
At least I am tall and lanky so that I have some semblance of strength. I am a bit of a gentle giant, and that garners some respect (mostly from my wife who can’t reach top shelves or move heavy boxes or bags easily.)
But why do I want gray hair?
I instinctively understood it as a child, but grew to understand it better as I grew.
It is not just that it can look dignified. Gray hairs tell others we have been through life. They tell others we have struggled through some of life’s problems and come out wiser.
Gray hairs are earned by learning life lessons the hard way.
I have been through my share of struggles and have earned some grays, but the Lord blessed me with thick, persistently dark hair.
It almost scares me to consider how much wisdom He yet wants me to learn (“fear the Lord”), but the few grays I do own have taught me to trust His lessons and timing.
Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? -Proverbs 20:6, ESV
The band Third Day has a song, called Love Song, in which they discuss a man who would climb the highest mountain and swim the deepest ocean, all to declare his love for a woman, but how many times has that promise been broken? (This question is also in the song.)
But it turns out this song is from the perspective of Jesus. Other lyrics include:
I’ve never climbed the highest mountain But I walked the hill of Calvary I’ve never swam the deepest ocean But I walked upon the raging sea
Just to be with you, I’d do anything There’s not price I would not pay Just to be with you, I’d give anything I would give my life away
I know that you don’t understand the fullness of My love How I died upon the cross for your sins And I know you don’t realize how much that I gave you But I promise, I would do it all again
Just to be with you, I did everything There’s not price I did not pay Just to be with you, I gave everything Yes, I gave my life away
Jesus is the only truly faithful one. Find His love, and His forgiveness and mercy and grace.
The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. -Proverbs 19:12, KJV
Let’s keep this short and … sweet … today.
No one likes to make the leader of a nation upset, because it could be really bad for your freedom and/or health.
But we must also remember that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, is the King of Heaven.
If you fail to believe in His lordship and sovereignty, that He is the Son of the Living God who sacrificed Himself for our sin, then you are under His wrath and should fear His mighty roar.
However, if you have faith in Christ, you can know true peace and find yourself refreshed each moment in His grace.
Trust the King. His love, mercy, and grace are everlasting and oh so sweet to the soul.
Caitlin Klem
Chris Jordan
Daniel M. Klem
dawnlizjones
David
Grady Davidson
Jason Sneed
M. Wiley Wilson
Nick
Anthony Baker
Katie Marie
Wally Fry
Proverbial Thought 