The Fool on the Hill

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.  Proverbs 26:4

The fool stands out for all to see.   He is proud and arrogant.   He is one who thinks only of himself.  God here in this passage instructs us to measure our words when speaking to a fool.   How can we do this?    By stepping back and reflecting on what we are going to say, and do.  It means that we take some time to consider the weight of our words and actions, and their possible consequences.   We live in a time of great anger and division.  People are apt to speak off the top of their head, venting and showing their anger without stepping back and considering what affect their words or actions might have.    We live in a time of fools, where angry emails, tweets, and rants seem to be the norm of the day.    So take a step back and pray, ask God for the proper God pleasing response.  Consider your own words and actions before you say and do them.   Reflect on the mercies of Christ and how Christ would have you answer and act.  Pray for the wisdom of the Spirit.   Then you won't be seen as a fool or play the part of a fool, but you will seek to live and act as a disciple of Christ.  

Waiting patiently for the Lord

The Psalm today is from Psalm 37: 3-11.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
    fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
    Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
11 But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.  How hard this is to do!   When we are wronged and wish to seek revenge, the Lord instructs us to leave it to Him.  Note verse 8, retain from anger and forsake wrath.   The Lord says vengeance is mine, says the Lord.   Satan seeks to tempt us by causing us to fret and think of ways we can take matters into our own hands.   But this is not to be!   In doing so, it only leads to evil, as we, sinful people, seek to do sinful things to those who have wronged us.   When we do that, we pile sin onto sin.  And yet the Lord tells us a better way.   Wait for the Lord.    Turn the matter over to God, and let Him deal with the matter.  Turn all things over to God.   He is merciful and ready to forgive.  He forgives us in Jesus Christ, even though we do not deserve it.   As God is merciful to me, I am to be merciful to the one who wrongs me.   And a way to do that is not to seek revenge, but to turn that person over to the Lord and let Him deal with the person the way He sees fit.  

At the proper time God says the wicked will be no more.   He will come on the Last Day and make all things right.  It is amazing how the Old Testament people waited for the Lord.   They waited literally centuries to see God fulfill HIs promises in Jesus.   And yet they waited and trusted.  SHouldn't we do the same?   For when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and His strength, when we are meek instead of having hearts filled with anger, then we will truly be at peace not only with God, but with others, and we will delight in the peace that God gives that surpasses all understanding.

I'm back, I think

I read recently an article in a Journal from a pastor who said that he writes daily devotions for his congregation.  The reason he does this is that he is able to reflect on the Scripture he reads for the day and put those thoughts into writing.   It helps him become a better writer.  I read that and thought to myself, "I should do that, but how?"  So I return, hopefully more regularly, with thoughts springing from my reading of the Scripture.   May all who participate in this, writer and reader, be blessed.