The Darkness Loves Evil as if Good

Isaiah 5:20-21
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!

John 3:19-21

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Pride thrives in darkness; when people hate good, seek evil as if it was "good fun," then their pride justifies running from God and making good out of what He clearly calls evil.  But those seeing what is wrong and turning from it find themselves turning to Jesus and knowing the One who so loved the world.  

Humbled Eyes Gaze on the Holy One

Isaiah 5:15-16
People shall be brought down, Each man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.  16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in righteousness.

In the end, at the final judgment, all will see God is sovereign and will bow before Him.  This will bring humility when we all see Him high and lifted up, and our created and sinful state beneath Him.  His judgment is right, and so His holiness will be clearly seen, even if people now deny this truth.  This is why reconciling with God in Christ is the most important thing to do in this life before facing that inescapable judgment.  This is the good news of Jesus Christ that no good deeds or church membership can ever do for us.  Only Jesus. 

Covering Glory Guides Us

Isaiah 4:4-6 
When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. 6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.

God's cleansing judgment in Christ gives us a place to stand before Him at last, much as the Branch, the Messiah (Christ) was to do here in Isaiah.  Just as God led the exodus from Egypt with a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, so He leads His people now in glory, giving relief in the heat of the day and protection in the storms of life. 

God's Earth Shaking Judgement

Isaiah 2:11, 17-19 
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.   17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day, 18 But the idols He shall utterly abolish.  19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into the caves of the earth, From the terror of the Lord And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.

The pride of man will be taken down as He is lifted up.  All manmade idols and works of pride that we rely on, to include ideas of evolution and those making us masters of our own destiny - all these will be done away with in the end.  Nobody can hide from God or the shaking up of all we know when He comes to judge all with finality.  But we have a second chance as we still live; it is hope in Jesus Christ and none other. 

He Will Teach and Guide Us

Isaiah 2:2-3 
Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.  3 Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Worship of God is very important.  But learning from Him and living out what He says are the goal. It is easy to listen, but so difficult to always walk as Jesus showed us -- but it is also necessary, and why we are told in Philippians to run to that goal, not dwelling on past failures (or successes).  We are taught by God (John 6:45) to be drawn to Him, but are also continued to be taught by Him (1 Thessalonians 4:9). 

Cleansed to Sin No More

Isaiah 1:16-19  
“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor;  Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.  18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.  19 If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land;

Repentance, admitting your sin with deep regret at offending God, must lead to turning away from sin and toward Jesus who stood in our place to take the just sentence we deserve.  Isaiah shows what that looks like - turning to do good, but relying on God's cleansing of our dirty sinful lives, not our reforming works of social action.  Then forgiveness in Christ delivers (saves) us from what we deserve.  We are made pure white in His sight, as Jesus' sacrificial blood covers our sin so that God sees Jesus' perfection where our sin once glared.  This is the Good News. 

Son Spoke Personally to Us

Numbers 12:6-8  
Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.  7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house.  8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord…"

-- Hebrews 1:1-2   1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

-- 2 Corinthians 3:15-16.  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Prophets used to be necessary to see visions and dreams in order to know what God said and tell His people; now we who know Christ have Him by God's Spirit inside us to unveil the truth of His word to us.   There is no need for new revelation - God has spoken it and now reveals that to us.  So we can come before His face to the throne based on grace to find direction, help, and understanding. 

Blessed are Led and Upheld by God

Psalms 37:22-24.  
For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth, But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.  23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.  24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

-- Psalms 37:27-28.   Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell forevermore.  28 For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.

Those who follow God in Christ are blessed and led by Him.  They take great pleasure in this, ding right as they follow, knowing they can absolutely rely on His hand to hold them up.   But we are also called to do good and run from evil - this is our lifelong response to Him saving us from the justice of punishment for sin we all deserve.  In the end, those not accepting His pardon and continuing mockingly to pursue their own evil will face judgement still.  Since we have escaped so great a judgement, let us never excuse our sin, but continually admit and turn from it. 

Patient Rest of the Meek

Psalms 37:7-11
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret — it only causes harm.  9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth.  10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more.  11 But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Walking by faith means we have to patiently wait on God's timing.  It also means we do not gain anything by looking at what others have, or be angry and anxious for the wrong done to us or others.  Instead, we are told to wait with power in constraint (self controlled, meek).  God will be the Judge at the end when all is reckoned; we are not the judge, and we have good news to offer so others may not face the bad after death. Wait, watch, and always be ready to give a good defense for the hope we have. 

Commit Your Way to the Lord

Psalms 37:3-6 
Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

When Jesus returns, will He find this faith on the earth - trusting Him for all of life while doing good, finding real joy in knowing and obeying Him, letting God put His desires in our hearts as we draw nearer to him while looking more like Jesus?  When we do, He straightens our way, bringing Christ's righteousness to us and justice by His death on the cross in our rightful place.  So we should continue to commit all to Him in absolute trust in everything.  This is walking by faith. 

Speaking Truth in Love to Repentance

2 Timothy 2:23-26  
But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Speaking the truth in love when talking about spiritual things - this can be difficult when the truth is obvious, yet others want to turn it into an argument.  What are we to do?  Respond with gentle words instead of arguments, humility in correction, knowing what the Bible says to give a good defense for the hope we have.  We pray God will lead them to admit and turn from sin to Him as they see the truth.  Most of all, we want to see them set free from the devil's lies that trap them in darkness, and be translated into the light of the knowledge of God's glory in Jesus Christ. 

Sanctified or Dishonoring?

2 Timothy 2:20-21 
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

In God's temple - the reborn in whom He lives and we worship from individually and collectively - there are glazed vases like Ming, and there are clay pots like wash ins and refuse collectors.  We are jars of clay, molded by the Potter, but how we polish or let our pots go determine how He can use us.  Do we then clean out the sinful thoughts and deeds so he can use us for His glory as we were designed for?  Are we sanctified, set aside, for His use, ready for the good we are intended to do? 

Approved to God in Word and Deed

2 Timothy 2:15-19  
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:“The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Truth matters.  Love matters.  Speaking the truth IN love is priceless.  We must understand God's word by reading, studying, and memorizing it as we meditate on how to put it into practice.  Seeking only to care for others without a foundation of God's truth is as empty as a loveless clanging cymbal.  This is why sound teaching within the church is vital to the gospel and to Christ's body.  The bottom line here is that God knows who are real transformed believers, and those who are have no option but to be ever more holy as He is to reflect His name with honor and glory. 

Fragrance of Worship

Song of Songs 1:12.  While the king is at his table, My spikenard sends forth its fragrance.

     John 12:3.  Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

     Luke 7:46-47.  You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

Do we mourn so much for our sin that we would give our most valued possessions to honor Jesus Christ?  Having been forgiven so much, do we not desire to live for Him, giving our all?  The Shulamite gave her best for her beloved; so Mary did for Jesus, and so should we.  This ointment filled the house when released, just as His Spirit will fill us out (not having more of Him but He having more of us) when we sacrifice our best for our Beloved. 

Shepherd Gives Words of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 
The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.   13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man 's all.   14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.

We can learn from those teaching God's word, for the Shepherd Jesus Christ gives the gifts and wisdom to men to do so.  So we should learn from these words, adjusting our lives no matter how long it takes or how weary we become.  But the bottom line is that we must fear God and follow Him and what He teaches us, doing all He says.  We each will answer to Him at the end, so let us do so with joy in the direction of our lives being conformed to Christ. 

God's Grace of Salvation Changes Us

Titus 2:11-14  
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

God saved us out of the goodness of who He is, not because we were righteous but to make us righteous (holy as/because He is holy).  What are we to do?  Are we to say "once saved, always saved, so I can do whatever I want?"  The Bible says otherwise.  Jesus paid the utmost prize up to the cross for us, and we are now to be His people, saved from lawlessness and for doing the good and right (Eph.2:8-10).  We must deny, not do, worldly lust and ungodly things.  We must instead live soberly, righteously, and godly - as Jesus showed and taught us.  Anything less is an affront to God, and forgets we are bought at such a price.  If we have experienced God's grace, we are changed and begin to live accordingly; if there is no change, we are not His (1 John 3:10). 

Follow Your Heart, Led to Judgment

Ecclesiastes 11:9-10

9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; Walk in the ways of your heart, And in the sight of your eyes; But know that for all these God will bring you into judgment.  10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, And put away evil from your flesh, For childhood and youth are vanity.

If we live only for our own satisfaction and do as we feel for what looks good to us, we will miss the mark of God's best for us and find ourselves accountable in the final day.  But if we find joy in Christ and His work and word, choosing to obey out of love, then we grow up spiritually, and we so can rest in facing Him throughout all time.  Not grasping after the wind vainly, but following the wind of the Spirit of God as He guides us into all truth and deed. 

God's Working in Birth

Ecclesiastes 11:5   
As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

   John 3:6-8.   That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

   Genesis 2:7   And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

God works in the spiritual realm to give life; this shows some evidence in a changed life afterwards, but is not something you can see happening.  This is why Jesus tried to tell Nicodemus of His working to regenerate us - a new birth is by God's breath (spirit) into us, as in the creation of Adam.  We must never imagine we are in Christ based on our upbringing or what good things we do; only Christ dying in our place and grace given for us to believe that will ever allow God's breath to change us from death to life.

Effort of a Dull Ax or Sharp Wisdom?

Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success.

Do we try to do things in our own strength of effort, using a dull ax and simply swinging it harder and harder as we try to succeed?  Or do we look to God and with Him into His word to have His Spirit guide us to wisdom?  Do we sharpen our souls by His Spirit according to the Bible?  Stop swinging the dull ax of works and let the grace of His word give us the edge. 

Quiet Words of Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18  
13 This wisdom I have also seen under the sun, and it seemed great to me:14 There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.  16 Then I said: “Wisdom is better than strength.  Nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, And his words are not heard.  17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard Rather than the shout of a ruler of fools.  18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”

The wisdom of God's people is not always heeded, even within the church; most often the rich and famous with a following are followed by bleating sheep who ignore sincere words of wisdom from Christ followers.  The battles are own with humility to demonstrate it is God who fights and not men, but we look for a Saul over David, needing someone with a TV show, books, seminars, or other "accomplishments" instead of looking to see if Christ and His Spirit are there.  Is this wise? 

Shadow Life

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13-13, 17  
12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13 But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear before God.   17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

Though those who do evil in God's eyes may seem to be doing well, the shadow of their lives will soon fade away. Those who fear and follow God, however, will shine as lights in heaven for pleasing God in their hearts, minds, and lives.  Even so, there is mystery around His working, for we see the edges of His ways in all this.  But we can trust and obey, giving no excuse for sin. 

Power over Death

 

Ecclesiastes 8:1-8 
1 Who is like a wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, And the sternness of his face is changed.   4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”  5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment,  6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly.  7 For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?   8 No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, And no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, And wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.

Wisdom changes our joy and so our appearance as well.  To be wise is to acknowledge God's sovereignty, doing all He says out of thankfulness and love.  Wisdom knows He has everything in control, and it is wise to wait, foolish to be angry or do things our own way first.  Wisdom means we remember God holds our lives in His hand, so doing right till death is the real war to fight against evil.  There is no power over death in man, but only in the Son of Man. 

Only God Makes the Way Straight

Ecclesiastes 7:13, 20, 29 
13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?  20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.  29 Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.”

Jesus the Messiah made straight our crooked path as He went straight to the cross and up from the dead.  All this because there is not and never will be a man or woman who is sinless.  God mad us perfect in Eden, but our disbelief and disobedience has tainted our crooked souls and their ways since then.  Yet we still blame God for the world's problems when we are all to blame...

Luke 3:5-6. Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. 

Wisdom of Inheritance

Ecclesiastes 7:10-12 
Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?”  For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.  11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, And profitable to those who see the sun.  12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

Longing for the "good old days" is not wise, because time goes forward into eternity, and God's plans will unfold by His will.  To be wise is to listen to and follow all He says.  This is what we can rely on, as it brings life - something riches and gain of any other thing can never do.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; He will then give what you need.  Our wisdom is in God's inheritance! 

A Good Name is Humble

Ecclesiastes 7:1, 8   
1 A good name is better than precious ointment, And the day of death than the day of one's birth;   8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

The name given as Christ's exceeds any temporary balm in this life; to be His and not just named as 'adam, man, a sinful fallen being, this is good news!  Then to know that death offers better than our sinful birth into this world because it opens a new one forever before our God as in Eden again... This should lead to a patient spirit as the verse here says.  This is hope past any grasping for wind we come up with on our own. 

God's Life Breathed into Man

Ecclesiastes 6:10 
Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

We are ’adam - "ruddy" i. e. a human being, created from the ground of the earth with God's life breathed into us.  But we are fallen in our common parents who sinned against Him, then bore children by design 'after their own kind.'  So here we are reminded that is who we are at birth, yet still argue against God that we are sinners by nature.  This new year offers a new chance to examine ourselves to see if there truly has been a new birth to breathe the renewed life of God in Christ by His Spirit into us.  If you are only the original creation, still known as 'adam to Him, turn from that sinful man to Christ for forgiveness and new life by believing Jesus died in your place to bring you to God.  You have no assurance of a 2015, but you do have today. 

Vain Pursuits of Life

Ecclesiastes 6:7-9 
All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied.  8 For what more has the wise man than the fool?  What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living?  9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire.  This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

People work hard all their lives to gain, but most in the end do not feel satisfied within.  The fool has little, but does the wise in his own eyes have any more?  Who truly walks right in life, eyes set on what matters in eternity before his Maker?  Grabbing wind is easier than satisfaction in self.  Ah. But the more excellent way is found in Christ Jesus - He gives sight to the blind in soul, provides wisdom to walk in the light (that is where He is), and fulfills the soul's desire forever.

On a change of heart to result in change of behavior:  That is wisdom; God always desires our heart, and our effort apart from His Spirit's slow sanctifying work to transform us does not work.  The more we love and obey, the more we take on the heart of Christ, God within us, and please Him!

Contentment

Ecclesiastes 5:15-16 
As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, To go as he came; And he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand.  16 And this also is a severe evil — Just exactly as he came, so shall he go.  And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20. As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor — this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

Do we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, or are we so busy acquiring things and wealth, knowing we cannot take it with us when we die?  If He gives us much, we should enjoy it and use it wisely, not holding the wind of wealth tightly.  Joy in living to please God has the greatest and lasting value - into eternity.

Fear God, Watch our Words

Ecclesiastes 5:6-7  
Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? 7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.

As James also pointed out, the tongue is an unruly evil, bent on going its own way.  It causes us to sin, and even lie to God that what we said was sinful.  He is then angry when we give excuses or denial.  Too many words or imaginations of daydreams are also vain self-centered sin because our eyes should be on God in Christ instead of our own thoughts and ideas that contradict what He tells us.  It is truth that matters, because He looks at and tests our hearts.

Proverbs 17:3 
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

Job 34:21  “For His eyes are on the ways of man, And He sees all his steps."

James 3:8-10.   But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Prudent Worship

Ecclesiastes 5:1-5 
1 Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.  2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.  For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.  3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool's voice is known by his many words.  4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed — 5 Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.

Worship of God is not a flippant thing; true worship comes from a sincere heart, not religious acting or rote chanting of someone else's words.  So be careful how much as well as what you say, counting the cost of any promises (vows) promising to do such and such for Him - especially if you attach conditions to the vow.  You may find yourself dreaming up things God has not promised nor ones you cannot do either.  Be honest, sincere, and broken before the Holy One, and that contrite heart is what Jesus promised He will hear. 

God’s Choice, Not Man’s

John 13:18 
“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.' 

John 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.   John 17:15  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.   John 17:20.  "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;"    John 17:17.  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Judas chose rebellion and received Hell as a consequence; we who are chosen and respond with belief to the truth are never lost as Judas was, and are kept by God's word as we are transformed to ever increasing glory in the face of our savior Jesus Christ.  Just as 11 of the 12 were chosen and kept, so we who now believe are promised the same.  Christmas is how we celebrate how much God loves the world, sending His Son for this new life by taking our punishment for sin and allowing us freely to enter in to his presence for unending time. 

Christ Brought Light into Darkness

Christmas is the Gospel - Good News!   When the Light, the Truth, the Son of God came into this world, He showed Himself as God among us - Emmanuel.  The Child was God's Son given to call us to repent (turn away from sin and toward Him), then He took the just penalty of death and eternal separation from God in Himself to nail it to the cross.  Then He came back from death to prove He offers life forever to us who have turned, coming in belief and trust and receiving this Child as Lord and God.  "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." (1Timothy 1:15)

Isaiah 9:2   2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.   6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 4:13-17   13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.  17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “ Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

John 18:37  Pilate therefore said to Him, “ Are You a king then?”  Jesus answered, “ You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

John 12:46-48   I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him —the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 

Eternal Messiah and King

Micah 5:2-4   
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”   4 And He shall stand and feed His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, For now He shall be great To the ends of the earth;

Jesus the Savior, the Messiah, the Christ - He was told to is to come, and He feeds those who come to Him, keeping them as they abide in Him.  Truly the name of Jesus Christ echoes yet to the ends of the earth, even as many know of (though may not practice and honor) Christmas. 

Left Hand Needs the Right

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12   
9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.  11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

The Talmud says, "A man without a companion is like a left hand without the right."  This synergy of marriage has great spiritual and relational value and reward, both now and into eternity.  There is strength, help, warmth, meaning, and bonding when Christ is the cord holding two together! 

God’s Timing is Forever Predetermined

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11, 15, 17    
1 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:   11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.   15 That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.   17 I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

God's times and timing are made for us.  He is eternal, El Olam, and has not allowed us to see all of time as He does - so He can test our hearts for Him (do we love and obey)?  We are accountable to Him along the time we are given, knowing He will have a final judgement; this is for both good and bad, righteous and evil.  Those who admit their sin, turn from it and to Him, believe and receive Jesus Christ as taking their place for just sentencing - these are seen only as right before God because of what He did that we could not.  This was planned before time... Eternity is in our hearts. 

Work of Folly vs. Wisdom of Grace

Ecclesiastes 2:13-14, 26 
Then I saw that wisdom excels folly As light excels darkness.  14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, But the fool walks in darkness.  Yet I myself perceived That the same event happens to them all.    26 For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God.

Walking in the light, or at least towards it, is wisdom, because it is foolish to walk in darkness.  God does honor those who find the light of the knowledge of the glory of Him in Jesus Christ, and even uses those in darkness at times to provide for that one seeking light to shine on his deeds, no matter what the circumstances of life.

2 Corinthians 4:6.  For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Ethereal Pursuit or Eternal Profit?

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.  I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor.  11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.  There was no profit under the sun.

If we live for ourselves, getting everything we enjoy and desire, that is all we have - the stuff.  This is an empty pursuit, something you cannot hold onto any more than you can hold the wind in your grasp.  The only real profit is the eternal, so to seek first God's kingdom and living to please Him is the only lasting pleasure to hold onto. 

Crooked Straightened by God

Ecclesiastes 1:15  What is crooked cannot be made straight, And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

Read these passages and reflect on Jesus Christ, God among us, who came to take away the sins of the world by his birth, life, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection.  Every knee will bow to Him as God, for who He is and for making the crooked ways of our sin straight.  We cannot make our ways straight by doing enough good to pay for our sin, so Jesus did it in our place!

   Isaiah 40:3-5.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.  4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

   Isaiah 45:2, 6   “I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.  6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other;

   Isaiah 45:22-23 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.  23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

   Philippians 2:10-11  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Fleeting Satisfaction

Ecclesiastes 1:8-11 
All things are full of labor; Man cannot express it.  The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing.  9 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done,  And there is nothing new under the sun.  10 Is there anything of which it may be said, “See, this is new”? It has already been in ancient times before us.  11 There is no remembrance of former things, Nor will there be any remembrance of things that are to come By those who will come after.

People strive and they want more, yet keep repeating the same mistakes - there is really no new way people think or act.  Technology changes and civilization composed of human nature does not either (but we like to think so).  This is why we have the saying that history repeats itself.  But it is our fallen sinful nature that does these things "after their own kind," as God said in Eden to man.  Since our one father, Adam, fell so are we born spiritually after that kind - and why Christmas is our God's ultimate gift of reconciliation to Himself in Jesus to make us anew after His kind! 

Christ is our Sin and Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:21  
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Just as Christ did not become sinful as He took on our sin (He took on the punishment for our sin, but remained sinless as God), so we do not become righteous but find his righteousness in Him.  He therefore can be our substitute as sacrifice for sin, and we can by His Spirit become more righteous (holy) as we put to death by the Spirit the deeds of sinful flesh.  So we work out our salvation to be holy as He is, standing righteous in His sight by Jesus' covering blood. 

Vanity of External Beauty

Proverbs 31:30 
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing [vain, empty, unsatisfying]

Ecclesiastes 1:14  
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Seeking things other than the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt.6:33) only results in chasing the wind.  Solomon realized this as seen in Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs also shows that outward beauty is a vain pursuit.  The transitory ends, but the eternal never disappoints.  This is why Jesus tells us to seek the things above where He and the Father are...

הבל habel; emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; 

Speak Up for Poor and Needy

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.  9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

This are two things leaders (here the king) should be doing - speak up for those who do not have the wealth, power, or position to be heard themselves, and be fair to rich and poor with the same consistent standard.  Yet we see the leaders of this age rarely do these things, being without the hope of Christ. 

Trust God’s Pure Word

Proverbs 30:5-6

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.  6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

God's word, the Bible, is pure - without fault or wrong.  God himself shields and protects those who trust completely in Him (faith).  This is why we cannot add things to what He says, but take Him at His word for only what is said there, or our lies we put onto His truth will shame us before God and men.... 

Trust God’s Revealed Word

Proverbs 29:18, 25, 27   
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.   25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.  27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

If we do not see what God has revealed to us, opening our eyes through those He chose to hear and write all down in a Book, then we will do whatever we want to without restraint of good or evil.  But when we listen to Him and do all He says, then we find joy.  However, we who do the right thing find those not seeing to find us contemptible - even though it is right.  This is the root of sin - hating what God calls good, and loving what He reveals to be evil.  Sin is not happy, but empty.

Trust in Lord, Not Our Hearts

Proverbs 28:14, 25-26 
Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.   25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.   26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Those who fear and revere God find happiness, trusting in Him and doing their best to wall wisely according to the commands, examples, and principles of the Bible.  To harden your heart by not doing these things only leads to pride and foolishness. 

Boast in God’s Leading

Proverbs 27:1, 18  
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth....18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.

If and as The Lord wills, so I will do.  I will wait on my Master for what is best as I do what I am given to do, so eating of the fruit of my labors.  He honors those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30).  

Loving Our Enemies by Serving

Proverbs 25:21-22 
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; 22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the Lord will reward you.

As JFB SAYS, "(Compare Mt 5:44; Ro 12:20) As metals are melted by heaping coals upon them, so is the heart softened by kindness."  Loving our enemy should melt the hate of a heart that needs the love of a Christ.  As as Jesus quoted this same scripture, it is important to see why God demands our actions and heart work together for the good of others - and not just those who love us in return. 

Visible Edges of God’s Ways

Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 
Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. … 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.

No matter how injustice seems to favor evil at times, we see only the edges of God's ways in what He allows and what He judges in this life.  Our task is to fear God and live according to all He says - this makes it well with our souls, no matter what the circumstances around us.  Remember that in the end at the final judgement all will be righteously and justly settled. 

Pursue Wisdom with Heart of Obedience

Proverbs 23:7, 23, 26 
My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.   23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.  7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

God sees our hearts, so must we seek His wisdom and instruction to be wise.  Then we can be what fills our heart and mind... 

Zealous for God, Envious for None

Proverbs 23:17-18
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; 18 For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.

Many get rich by seeking things dishonestly or with love only for self, not caring how.  These are not ones to want to be like or to desire to have what they possess.  What matters is the love and fear of God - this is what we must jealously desire, knowing we will face Him and live in His presence forever (those who are new creations in Christ, that is). 

Value of Humble Fear

Proverbs 22:4, 11, 29  
By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.  11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.   29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

How do we live before God and men?  Start with humility, fearing God who is your Lord and Master.  Love what He says is good and talk of those things with grace to others.  Do well in your work as doing it for God Himself.  This brings honor from God and men, with His pleasure as the greatest riches. 

God Alone Delivers

Proverbs 21:30-31
There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.  31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.

Nobody can be wiser than God, yet many act as if they think they are... Others try to use all their own power to win wars or other battles, forgetting that only He can deliver from defeat and destruction. 

Certain Judgement and Repentance

2 Peter 2:4, 9; 3:7, 9  
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; ... 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,  ... 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

God will judge everyone in His time, and will keep those who are His through it all.  He does not want to see anyone punished forever, but is holy, just, and must act accordingly to do what is fair.  We all deserve hell, but everyone turning from disobedient sin to Christ is what He really yearns for! 

God Sovereignly Leads Our Steps

Jeremiah 10:23  

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

God leads us; all our plans fall under His greater plans for us according to His will.  This is hard for us to agree to as self-willed fallen people, but it is still true.  Why should we then not make our plans with the understanding that God's will shall drive the circumstances to a greater good?  This should calm our anxieties while giving us purpose in all we do. 

Follow His Righteousness!

Proverbs 21:21

He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

If we do the right things according to what God spells out as right in the Bible, the we come to find life in Him, become righteous in Christ who changes us to be more like Him, and will be honored by God and man.  Do we follow what He says? 

God Weighs the Heart

Proverbs 21:2-4 
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.  3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.  4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

God knows our hearts; we cannot fool Him.  He wants us to do justly, love mercy, And to walk humbly with Him.  Pride and arrogance and loving to do evil or not care about it are sin, and foul the heart. 

We Cannot Save Ourselves

Proverbs 20:6, 9, 22, 24 
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?   9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?   22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.   24 A man's steps are of the Lord; How then can a man understand his own way?

We are not good of ourselves, nor can we make ourselves good, clean, and righteous by our own effort.  God is the only one who can deliver us into goodness, and the only way He gives us is Jesus Christ.  Since He then leads each step we take, we must look to Him and in His word to find understanding, meaning, and purpose in and for all we do. 

Commands and Counsel or Carelessness?

Proverbs 19:16, 21
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of his ways will die.   21 There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel —that will stand.

When we follow what God has told us, then we have life as we heed what we do, think, and say.  Along with this we must allow God's words to counsel us to make our plans and have purpose and care in our ways - our choices and how we live.  These verses in Proverbs are worth thinking through. 

God’s Sovereign Rule

Ecclesiastes 8:4-7 
4 Where the word of a king is, there is power; And who may say to him, “What are you doing?”  5 He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful; And a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment, 6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly.  7 For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?

God is sovereign over all, including us.  His power, will, and command rule in love, so we must lovingly obey while seeing there is a time and place for what He allows and decrees.  No matter how we feel or what we go through, He knows and works all together for our good! 

What Angels Want to See

Do you want to see what angels see?  Read this:

1 Peter 1:10-12 
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things which angels desire to look into.

Angels wanted to see what the gospel message has shown us - that God was in Christ reconciling sinful people to Himself in Jesus Christ.  These things of God were sought out during the times before Christ in the Old Testament by the prophets, and now are explained in the New Testament to show the things angels want to see, but have been shown to us made in God's image!