Fear God Hate Evil

The Proverbs have a way of making things simple. This Proverb is no different. As we seek wisdom, we will understand the importance of fearing the Lord. This is not an “I’m terrified of You” type fear. It is a reverence type of fear. 

When she was growing up, our daughter would see a kid do something on television and exclaim, “You guys would kill me if I did that.” Now she knew we would not kill her (too much paperwork involved), but she did know that we would have given her corrective consequences for her actions. 

That is what the fear of the Lord looks like. 

Do you fear God in that way? Or do you find yourself doing what you know is wrong, assuming that God loves you so much He wants you to be happy at all cost? I pray you have not fallen into the trap of the latter. It will not end well.

The truth of the matter is this, fear God, hate evil. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 8:12-13

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. 13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 25:31-26:13; Proverbs 8:12-13

Be Prepared

When I was a kid, I was in Boy Scouts. Their motto is “Be Prepared.” As I read the first of two parables in today’s readings, that was the thought that came to my mind. 

Five of the virgins were foolish and therefore unprepared for what was to come. They likely thought the bridegroom would come quickly and they did not want to be burdened with carrying the extra oil. As we read the conclusion of that parable, we learn that their desire to be comfortable over prepared did not work in their favor. 

Since this is a parable, we need to extract the actual meaning of what Jesus is teaching. He is teaching us to be ready for His return. We do that by first accepting what He did on the cross as the forgiveness of our sin. We then allow this decision to be manifested through our actions of love and service to Him and people. Our love is proven by our obedience to His commands. 

Walking with Christ well means being intentional. It means being prepared. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 25:1-4

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.”

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 25:1-30; Proverbs 8:1-11

You Don’t Know

The best kept secret ever is when the Lord will return. I cannot begin to count the number of times people have predicted His return. Yet, we are still waiting. 

This passage has been one that I’ve pondered for the entirety of my walk with Christ. It’s a reminder to myself. I say, “Gregg, you don’t know when Christ is returning, so do all that He tells you so you will be ready.”

Meditate on this word. Two people will be right next to each other; one will be taken and the other not.

That sounds intentional like a good plan. 

God knows everything. He knows who will accept His free gift and He knows who will not. It’s not a question of Him predetermining who’s going to Heaven. It’s a question of, will you accept the free gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of your sin. Once you do, walk your decision out in obedience to God’s word. Then it won’t matter when Jesus returns, you’ll be ready! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 24:36-42

36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 24:29-51; Proverbs 7:24-27

Sin Is Tricky

Yesterday I wrote that the “adulterous woman” is a metaphor for sin. As you read this passage, understand that sin is the subject. 

Think about how tricky sin is. Paul writes in Romans that the thing he does not want to do, he does (sin). And that which he does want to do, he doesn’t (live righteously). He ultimately tells us that only Christ can save him from sins entrapment. 

What was true for Paul is true for us. Sin is tricky. Many of us flirt with it because we do not fully understand the danger of it. Paul tells us that the wages of sin is death. This is not the physical death, for we all are destined to experience that. This is the spiritual death that leads to eternal separation from God. 

Spend time today asking God to show you your unrepented sin. He is faithful and will do it. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 7:22-23

22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 24:1-28; Proverbs 7:6-23

Metaphorically Speaking

In this Proverb, the “adulterous woman” is a metaphor for sin. As you read it, be mindful of the sin in your life that is so attractive. What has a hold on you?

Trust me when I tell you, I have had seasons in my life where sin had me so bound I could not see straight. The allure is intoxicating. I got to a place where I thought I could not live without the sin in my life.

PRAISE BE TO GOD! His faithfulness is long suffering. His forgiveness is FAR REACHING. 

Have you found yourself trapped in sin? You’re not alone. Christians around the world are suffering the same fight and fall as you. But there’s hope. And His name is Jesus Christ!

Put your trust in Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to guide all your actions. He knows how to guide you away from the sin that so easily entangles us and pulls us away from God. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 7:1-5

My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. 2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” 5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 23:13-39; Proverbs 7:1-5

The Greatest Commandment

Are you a person who does not do well with authority? In my life, I have met many people who struggle with authority. They have a difficult time taking instruction from others. They believe their own thoughts and ideas are “always” right. This is no way to live for Christ. 

When asked which is the greatest commandment, Jesus broke it down in simple terms, love God and love people. The Greek word used here is the verb “agapaó” which you may recognize from the word “agape.” This type of love is unconditional. It is the same love described in 1 Corinthians 13. 

When we “agapaó” God and “agapaó” people, we cannot help but keep well the other commandments in God’s moral law. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 22:34-40

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 22:34-23:12; Proverbs 6:27-35

No One’s Sneaking In

One thing I’ve noticed about death in the United States. It is that we have a 100% “Going to Heaven” rate. Every person “is in a better place”. They’re “with God now.” Scripture does not support this ideology. 

In this passage, Jesus teaches a different reality. He says that people who think they belong will be cast out. 

There’s a way to know for sure that you will be with God for eternity; accept the sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of your sin. That’s the “price of admission.” This cannot be faked. You cannot “act” saved and enter the kingdom of heaven. No one is sneaking in! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 22:11-13
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless.

13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 22:1-33; Proverbs 6:20-26

OUCH!

Sometimes I read a passage and know that I am guilty as charged. This is one of them. As I read this section of Proverbs 6 I was faced with the reality of God’s mercy and grace. I have been guilty of these things that God hates or finds detestable. 

What a mighty God we serve. If we do any of these to people, forgiveness would not come easy. But God, who is rich in mercy, sent His Son to be the forgiveness of our sin. Yes, the very sin He hates. 

Why would anyone not want to serve a God like that? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 6:16-19

16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19  a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 21:23-26; Proverbs 6:16-19

Keep Shouting Anyway

I love this passage! The two blind men knew what they wanted. Their faith was strong. Therefore they did not allow the crowd to hinder their healing. They shouted until Jesus responded. 

Now that’s a word for you!

There’s a parable about a widow seeking justice. The judge said he did not fear God nor man, but he said that widow’s persistence was going to wear him down if he didn’t give her justice. 

In that parable, Jesus teaches that our Father hears our persistent prayers and has compassion on us. 

The two blind men kept shouting and Jesus had compassion on them. 

What are you going through? What are you shouting to God about? Keep shouting! When the naysayers try to rebuke you and tell you to leave Jesus alone, keep shouting anyway! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 20:29-34

29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” 

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 20:29-21:22; Proverbs 6:12-15

Serve Like An Ant

This morning as I journaled, I thanked God for allowing me to know Him, then I asked what I am supposed to be doing. 

The Bible passages in today’s reading plan reminded me of what we all are supposed to be doing, serve like an ant.

These passages in Matthew and Proverbs teach us that we must be a servant of all if it is our desire to lead people to the foot of the cross. The Proverbs passage teaches us to work with wisdom and diligence like the ant. 

Together, these passages, on this day, reminded me that God is sovereign. He sits on His throne orchestrating the days of our lives for our best interest. The only question is, will we follow Him by serving others or will we do our own thing by serving ourselves. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 20:24-28; Proverbs 6:6-8

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 20:1-28; Proverbs 6:6-11

Choices

Today is a bittersweet day for me. It is the ninth anniversary of my mother’s passing. I miss her every day; that’s the bitter part. But I take the lessons she taught me and apply them in my life daily; that’s the sweet part. 

During the last few years of her life, she moved to live near my wife and me. This allowed us to have many great conversations. 

One thing my mother said often was the word, “choices.” She said it so often it became a kind of joke between us. 

Today I miss my mom but I’m thankful that the lesson I learned and the love I receive live on inside me.

Who can you take a moment to remember today? I encourage you to spend time allowing yourself to remember the lessons and love you carry from a loved one. Then go out and honor them by sharing Jesus with people. 

One of my mom’s favorite passages was found in Psalms 27. It’s one I live by because of her influence in my life. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Psalms 27:13-14

13 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 19:13-30; Proverbs 6:1-5

Why No Mercy

This parable fascinates me. Servant A is forgiven the equivalent of thousands of years wages, but he would not forgive the debt Servant B owed him. That debt was the equivalent of 100 days wages. 

Servant A was shown great mercy, yet he was not willing to show Servant B mercy. This is a picture of how we are. 

We get upset at people because they’ve “wronged” us. We say things like, “I will never forgive that person.” However, we run to God for His mercy to forgive our transgressions. That doesn’t make sense. 

Why no mercy?

As Christians, we should be the biggest mercy givers in the world. We know what God has forgiven in our lives. We know that without the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we were headed for eternal separation from God, and we still have the audacity to withhold mercy from others. That should not be. 

Spend time with God today. Ask Him to show you areas in your life where you need to show mercy to others. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 18:26-28

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 18:22-35; Proverbs 5:22-23

He Sees

As a high school teacher, I notice that many students walk the halls between classes seemingly “invisible.” They have their music playing loudly in their ears and many keep their head down. Far too many students seem to go unseen.

But the truth is, no one goes completely unseen. Our Father in heaven sees everyone and everything. Whether you’re living right for Him or forging a path through disobedience, He sees. 

Spend time with God today. Ask Him to show you areas in your life in which you are “hiding” sin. Once He shows you, do everything He tells you to do to eliminate it from your life. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 5:21

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 18:1-20; Proverbs 5:15-21

Faith

The area I see that most Christians in the US struggle with is faith. We have so much access to materialistic things that we find ourselves in places thinking our faith is bigger than it is. Let one “mishap” hit the average Christian, and their faith goes right out the window. They complain that God has forsaken them. They complain how “God answers everyone else’s prayers but He ignores mine.” And countless other excuses that magnify our lack of faith. 

Jesus teaches in this passage that even faith the size of a mustard seed will produce faith fruit. The key is believing and not doubting. 

What area of your life is God calling you to exercise faith? What is holding you back from leaning into faith in God rather than only trusting what your five senses can experience? 

In your quiet time, ask God to reveal these areas. Then allow Him to prune you so your faith is fruitful. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 17:18-20

18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 17:10-27; Proverbs 5:7-14

The Messiah

Who is Jesus? This was a question of the day when Jesus walked the earth. He asked His disciples who the people believe He is. They gave multiple names. Then Jesus asked them what they believed. Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah. 

Peter was correct. I believe with every fiber of my being that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Anointed One sent to be the redemptive sacrifice for the salvation for all who will believe.

What about you? Who do you say Jesus is? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 16:16

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 16:13-17:9; Proverbs 5:1-6)

The Best Way

Christians are always looking for the “best way” to follow Christ. It’s as if they think there are numerous ways and they have to find the one that suits them best. 

This is a mistake. There is no need to search for a “best way” because the Bible teaches us how to follow the Lord in all our ways. 

If you want to walk right with the Lord, open your Bible daily, read it with an intention to know God, then do what it says. Do this because it is the “best way.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 4:23-27

23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 15:29-16:12; Proverbs 4:20-27

Obedience Over Traditions

If you were to spend time looking at the church today, you will find many believers steeped in tradition, but not obedience to the word. Many “Christians” worship the church building they attend. They take great pride in boasting about their church and denomination. I have heard people argue about the validity of a Bible translation that is not the King James Version with red letters denoting the words of Jesus Christ. 

How did we get here? My guess is that many believers do not take the time to study the Word to get to know the heart of God. Some have never taken the time to question why their denomination believes what they believe. 

This is the end of the matter. Like with the Pharisees of Jesus’ time on earth, our obedience to tradition over obedience to the commands of God is leading us away from an eternity with the Father. 

Take time to read the Bible, study it, to know how God has commanded us to live, then live that way. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 15:3

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 15:1-28; Proverbs 4:14-19

Focused On Lack

This passage reminds me of the age ole issue of man; we focus more on what we don’t have than what we do have. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything at their disposal except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

I am convinced that this was no special tree. I believe it was the object of choice. Without it, Adam and Eve would not have been able to show their faith in God. 

We, too, are faced with an “object” of choice daily. We are faced with a situation in which we may have “lack” in an area and we have no idea how we will overcome it. That “lack” becomes our object of choice. Will we allow the lack to convince us that we are “doomed to failure” or will we allow God to take our “lack” and use it to produce more than what we need. 

This is a daily choice. How will you choose today? Will you focus on your “lack” and struggle? Or will you focus on God and thrive? The choice is yours. I encourage you to focus on God and thrive. It’s always the best choice! Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 14:17

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 14:13-36; Proverbs 4:11-13

No Hometown Heroes

When I was in the Army, I frequently had to fill out hometown news releases. It was the Army’s way to have soldiers inform their hometowns of their military accomplishments. I’m not sure any of my news releases ever made it into a local paper. 

This passage reminded me that in Christ, there are no “hometown heroes.” Just as Christ was unable to perform many miracles in His hometown, due to their lack of faith, we may find it difficult to successfully share our testimony in our hometown or in our homes. 

There’s an expression that says, familiarity breeds contempt.” I feel like that is the root of why there are no hometown heroes. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Matthew 13:58

58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 13:47-14:12; Proverbs 4:7-10

Use Wisdom

At some point in my life, the importance of wisdom finally clicked. Most people in my sphere of influence have heard me say, “use wisdom” or “that’s not wisdom.” 

I wish I could say it was my original idea but this passage shows you where I learned the importance of wisdom. Notice the writer says, “get wisdom, get understanding.”

My personal definition of wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. You can know something, but if you use that knowledge poorly, that’s not wisdom. 

Do you use wisdom in your decision making? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy. 

Proverbs 4:5-6

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. 6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

Today’s Readings:

Matthew 13:24-46; Proverbs 4:1-6