by Pastor Cecil | Jun 5, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:7
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a situation that seemed to have no solution? I am tempted to describe one or two of my own, but if I do it may prevent you from relating to your particular no-win situation. How do we cope?
In today’s Scripture we are cautioned to avoid becoming wise in our own eyes. This is very hard for us to grasp since we seem to have the desire to control things around us.
When we encounter evil or injustice we often rise up with righteous indignation and want to correct the situation. God’s Word makes it clear that our fervent anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
How are we to avoid using our own abilities when faced with the problems that confront us? The answer is very clear. First and foremost we are to trust in the Lord with all of our heart. That means letting go and letting God have control.
Secondly, we must acknowledge God in all of our ways. The Hebrew word for acknowledge is the word yada. It means in part to learn more and more about God and His ways. We do that as we rest in Him, study His Word, and discover more of His wonderful attributes.
Blessings dear hearts! Walk with God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 7, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:25
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Sometimes things happen in life that may seem both humorous and tragic. When I was in college I worked as a police officer on the graveyard shift so I could attend classes during the day. Usually the wee early hours of the morning were very quiet. But there was this one unusual break in the routine.
At about 2:30 one morning I saw a man stagger into the street and wave for me to stop. When I pulled over he opened the rear passenger door and jumped in the back seat. It took a moment for him to realize that he was not in a taxi.
“I thought this was a taxi cab!” he said. I told him that I wasn’t a cab driver, but that I had a room for him until he was sober enough to tell the difference. Perhaps I spared the man’s life by getting him to a safe environment for a few hours.
As we read today’s Scripture we are reminded that just because we think something is right does not mean that it is right. People have been duped into believing that if they do enough good deeds they will make it to heaven. Wrong cab! If they give enough money to the church they will be blessed. Wrong cab! If they just believe in God that is enough. Wrong cab! There is only one way to get into heaven — repent of your sins, invite Jesus Christ into your heart and be born again!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 2, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
In college there were prerequisites by which you could not enroll in a particular course until you had successfully completed a (prerequisite) class or classes. In much the same way, God places certain prerequisites in our life’s journey serving Him.
In today’s passage we find one don’t, two do’s, and a promise. Let’s get the don’t out of the way first: We are advised not to lean on our own understanding. All too often we discover that people place too much emphasis on what they know. It is called pride! God hates pride and we need to heed His warning against it.
God gives us two do’s: First, we are to trust in the Lord with all of our heart — that means our everything. Second, we are to acknowledge Him in all of our ways. Stop taking credit that rightfully belongs to the Lord.
The precious promise that God gives us in this passage is that He will direct our paths. That, to me, is better than any Global Positioning System GPS that man has ever developed.
Where do you find yourself in the process of meeting God’s conditional promises? I trust that you will learn along with me that God is better able to lead, guide, and direct than we will ever be.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 8, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I once read about a forest service worker who was walking through an area that had just been ravaged by a forest fire. He saw a strange mound and stopped to check it out. To his astonishment it was a mother bird that had been killed by the fire. As he knelt to examine the bird, he heard a peep from under the pile of ashes. When he turned the bird over he found several chicks.
Instead of flying to save herself, the mother had sacrificed herself in order to protect her brood from the fire that was sweeping toward them. That is what Jesus has done for us. He wants to shelter us under His wings from the firestorm of life.
In 1896, William Cushing wrote the words and Ira Sankey composed the music to the hymn, Under His Wings. Enjoy this featured hymn from GloryScapes.
Under His Wings
Under His wings, I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild.
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me and I am His child.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are over;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Refrain: Under His wings, under His wings,
who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
safely abide forever.
To access Under His Wings, this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/underhiswings/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 13, 2018 | Proverbs
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Have you ever been lost? I have. Not just once, but several times. I have been lost on a hunting trip, making the wrong turn on a highway, and a few other times I will not go into detail to explain.
Most of our problems arise when we fail to read the directions or do our own thing when we get God’s instructions wrong or out of order. STOP! Be honest and admit how many times you have failed to consult God and His Word before you acted?
When you became lost and undone did you blame God for the mess you found yourself in? (It’s getting uncomfortable now isn’t it?) Just remember that this is directed at me just as much, possibly more, than you.
So what are we expected to do? Just read and re-read today’s Scripture. There are several key steps that instruct us:
- We are to “TRUST God with all of our heart.”
- We are not to “lean on our own UNDERSTANDING;”
- We are to “ACKNOWLEDGE Him” in all our ways!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 17, 2018 | Proverbs
Proverbs 14:34
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
It is quite depressing to wake up each morning and be struck with the reality that we live in the midst of a sinful and unrighteous day and age. The writer of Proverbs states without equivocation that a nation is exalted when it is characterized by righteousness. That virtue is hardly to be found these days!
The writer also states that sin is a reproach to any people. The word reproach as used in this verse in the Hebrew word chesed, which in this context means a wicked thing. That is certainly an apt description of the effect sin has on our society.
What should be our response to the sinful condition of our world? We find the answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Many revivals in the past have been started by a few believers who were willing to humble themselves and pray until they touched the hem of His garment. It is time to evaluate our commitment to obey God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
