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Have a WISE and Happy Easter!!

Get ready!  Many things are happening this month!  Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9^th.  Spring begins on March 20^th and Easter is on March 23^rd.  Can you believe it?  Easter is already quickly upon us.  The very special celebration for Christians all over the world – the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  I look forward to celebrating and worshipping with you this month.

Last month we began a Sermon Series from the book of Proverbs.  Proverbs is the main book in the biblical collection of wisdom literature, which also includes Ecclesiastes, Job, and portions of Psalms. The purpose of wisdom literature in the Bible is to teach principles that contribute to good choices and productive living.  Proverbs contains thirty-one chapters, each comprised of twenty to thirty-five wise sayings that are each two poetic lines long.  For a little history, most of the book is attributed to King Solomon; but, as the book itself indicates, the written teachings in their current form were probably collected no earlier than the reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah in the late eighth and early seventh centuries b.c. 

A proverb is a short, pithy saying that usually draws a comparison between two forms of behavior in order to impart moral or religious wisdom to its receiver.  Biblical proverbs are religious, but they focus on concrete human experiences rather than divine revelation.  Nevertheless, their judgments always entail a timeless quality, like the moral of a myth or a folktale.  The biblical notion of wisdom implies acquiring skill or ability in the areas of justice and moral goodness—like a craftsmen learning a craft.  In fact, Proverbs frequently instructs the listener to “get” or “buy” wisdom (4:5 and 23:23).  The sayings in Proverbs are often addressed to young people, who are in the process of becoming wise.  In fact, it is likely that the Book of Proverbs formed part of the education for Hebrew youth after the Israelite exile and return to the promised land.

According to the prologue at the beginning of the book (1:1–7), Proverbs was written to give “prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young” (1:4), and to make the wise even wiser (1:5).  Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly lead to personal well-being, happy family relationships, fruitful labors and good standing in the community. Although Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living, it bases its practical wisdom solidly on the fear and reverence of the Lord (1:7). Throughout the book reverence for God and reliance on Him are set forth as the path to life, prosperity and security. Such godly wisdom is a virtual “tree of life” (3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4) that yields the happy life that God fashioned the creation to produce.

The major collections of proverbs range widely across the broad spectrum of human situations, relationships and responsibilities offering insights, warnings, instructions and counsels along with frequent motivations to heed them.  In a variety of situations and relationships the reader is exhorted to honesty, integrity, diligence, kindness, generosity, readiness to forgive, truthfulness, patience, humility, cheerfulness, loyalty, temperance, self-control and the prudent consideration of consequences that flow from attitudes, choices and/or actions. Anger should be held in check, violence and quarrelsomeness shunned, gossip avoided, arrogance repudiated. Drunkenness, gluttony, envy and greed should all be renounced.  The poor are not to be exploited, the courts are not to be unjustly manipulated, legitimate authorities are to be honored. Parents should care for the proper instruction and discipline of their children, and children should duly honor their parents and bring no disgrace on them.  Human observation and experience have taught the wise that a certain order is in place in God’s creation. To honor it leads to known positive effects; to defy it leads only to unhappy consequences.  All of life should be lived in conscious awareness of the unfailing scrutiny of the Lord of creation and in reliance on his generous providence.  In short, there is something for everyone in the book of Proverbs.  Enjoy!

Pastor Doug

SUMMER FUN SHOULD INCLUDE FAMILY DEVOTIONS (Part 2)!

Last month I began a discussion about the importance of family/couple devotions.  Our daily schedules are ALWAYS going to be busy, but there are some things that we just cannot cut out if we want to maintain a healthy, balanced life.  As I stated last month devotions have many benefits.  First of all devotions provide communication with God.  Secondly, devotions quench a spiritual thirst. 

3. Devotions Advance Personal Spiritual Growth. Personal devotions are important and we can grow with them but there is something special about studying God’s Word and praying with other members of the family.  If the children in the home see the parents praying and studying together they will want to do the same (see 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).  If you’re growing in God’s Word but your spouse isn’t, it makes for an unbalanced couple.

4. Family Devotions Bring Us Together. Sitting down and talking about spiritual things provides a safeguard against carnality in our homes (see 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).  If you want to put a hedge against worldly activity in your family, the best way is to get together regularly to discuss how we relate God’s Word to our lives in the world.  It’s a tradition your children will treasure later in life.

5. Devotions Provide Insight for Daily Life. Take Proverbs 10:4, for example: "Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth" (NIV).  It’s important for kids to know that.  The Book of Proverbs gives specific advice on how to treat a mean neighbor, what to do when your wife is mad at you, how to invest properly, when to speak and when to be silent, how to know when you’ve angered someone, and what to do about it.  And that’s just one book.  The Bible is so full of wonderful, practical life lessons!

6. Family Devotions Prevent Schizophrenic Faith. It seems to me that some Christians who believe in God and come to church can also believe some of the wildest, wackiest things.  They’ve mixed truth and error.  They sing praise choruses at church, yet hold beliefs that don’t square with Scripture.   Family devotions counter that.  As Christians we must know for ourselves what the Bible says.  Consistent time before the Lord enables us to grow.

7. Devotions Provide Daily Comfort and Encouragement. If I didn’t have a Bible, I don’t know what I’d do.  If I didn’t make it a part of my daily life, I don’t know what I’d do.  Colossians 2:8 warns us when it says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”  We are so blessed to have such easy access to the Word of God.  Our Bibles are our handbooks for successful living. 

8. Devotions Prepare Us to Share Our Faith. The more we’re in God’s Word, the more familiar with it we become and the more apt we are to share it.  I Peter 3:15 says, “…. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect...”

9. Devotions Provide Daily Marching Orders. When you get into Scripture, you find things that tell you what God wants you to do each day (see Deuteronomy 5:27 and Psalm 119:105).  God’s will is revealed in His Word.

10. Family Devotions Show Respect for the Author of the Bible. The greatest compliment to pay an author is to say, "I read your book."  I wonder what we’ll say to God when we meet Him face to face, and He asks, "Did you read My book?" (see Psalm 119:1-11).

We have now looked at 10 reasons why devotions must be a part of every healthy family.  But if you have never had devotions before you may be asking, “How do you start?”  Well, everybody does it differently.  Don’t be too hard on yourself, just do what you can and build from there.  You can read a chapter and then take a moment to discuss it. You can take prayer requests and then pray together.  It really is a simple thing.  It doesn’t take long, but we never allow anything to disrupt that time. If the phone rings, let it ring.  If the doorbell rings, don’t answer it.  Simply put, when you are spending time with your spouse or your family, and you’re spending time with God, there’s nothing more vital.  Happy devotions and keep fightin’ the good fight!  It will definitely be worth your while!

Pastor Doug