The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 1:7 (MSG)
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 25:6-7 (HCSB)
6 Remember, Lord, Your compassion and Your faithful love, for they [have existed] from antiquity. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my acts of rebellion; in keeping with Your faithful love, remember me because of Your goodness, Lord.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Matthew 7:12 (HCSB)
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
My observation:
Our focal passage from the Gospel of Matthew opens with the word "Therefore". I have been instructed that when I see this in the scriptures, I should ask the question, "What is the therefore "there for"?" Jesus did not speak the words of our passage in isolation. Let's look at what Jesus said previous to this statement.
Matthew 7:6 (HCSB)
Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
The pearl in this passage is the kingdom of God. The dogs and pigs in this passage can be associated with people who don't value the things of the kingdom. There are some people that you will meet in this world who want to hurt and harm you. How do you avoid being a victim of the schemes of the enemy of your soul? The answer is to pray every day for discernment.
Matthew 7:7-8 (HCSB)
7 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
There are some people in this world that you can't apply the golden rule to. Don't give what is holy to dogs and pigs. Yet, we are to be merciful, forgiving, and slow to anger. Now, this should keep us on our knees in constant prayer. We need discernment to know when to move on.
Matthew 10:14 (HCSB)
If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.
My prayer:
Father God, my dear Father, I need the wisdom of God to be able to rightly apply the golden rule. Father, give me that wisdom that comes from spending much time in your presence in prayer. Father, without you, I cannot strike the balance between discernment and being slow to judge.
James 1:5 (HCSB)
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
--
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
No comments:
Post a Comment