Month: February 2024

Proverbs 16:1-2

Believers are to be loyal to God in every aspect of their lives. He is purposeful in all His creation; therefore, Believers should trust Providence to manifest all those many plans of the heart. 

In v.1 the author declares that the preparations of man’s heart belong to him, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord (v.1). Enduring Word Commentary says “because man is made in the image of God, it is in his nature to make preparations of the heart.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV, paraphrased) says that man may have many plans in his heart, but he must trust Providence to manifest these plans into His purpose. Believers are called to love God with all of their being; therefore, out of loyalty to our Creator, we must trust Him and follow His guidance. He will clear the right of way, stir the hearts of believers, and bring our plans to fruition.

The writer continues: “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the spirits” (v.2). How amazing it is that in everyone’s own eyes he / she thinks what he / she does is right! However, we have a just Father Who weighs the heart of man by the Spirit; He knows when our motives and attitudes are pure or when they are self-righteous. If we hold on to our self-righteous attitude, we refuse to accept the work of the Holy Spirit in us. He has just what we need when we need it to accomplish our goals. 

Shout, “Glory!” and give Him praise.

Every February 14^th people all around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day, a day in which people express their love to others in a variety of ways. How beautiful and special is this! But love is not a one-day a year act for believers; it is a daily life of obedience. Believers are commanded to love the Lord their God with their total being and to love their neighbor as they love themselves. We are commanded in Ephesians 5:1-2 “to be imitators of God as dear children (v.1). And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (v.2). Deny yourselves and obey God; walk in love and become a sweet-smelling aroma to Him. 

Brothers and Sisters, love comes from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Therefore, let us love one another as we love ourselves (1John 4:7, ESV, paraphrased). In the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:44-45a, Amplified Bible, paraphrased): Jesus told the congregation to “love your enemies.” In other words, He told them that to love their enemies meant they were not to be selfish but seek the best or higher good for their enemies. He went on to say, “and pray for those who persecute you” (v.44), “so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven…” (v.45a). Above all,Chosen People of God, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3:14, NLT).

Give God glory!

Matthew 22:34-40, NKJV

There’s a song and film – What’s Love Got to Do with It? The film is based on the life of Tina Turner, a popular American singer / song writer. The movie portrayed Tina’s life of abuse at the hands of her husband, Ike Turner. Frankly, I am not sure if the title question is rhetorical or not. I am sure that according to Scripture love has everything to do with it. It is God’s primary command to believers – love Him and others. 

Here the Pharisees had heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees when they questioned Him about marriage in the resurrection (vv.23-33). Jesus literally shut down the Sadducees’ wrong thinking, telling them that there is no marriage in the resurrection. However, the Pharisees got together, and the one, who was a lawyer, asked Jesus, “Teacher, which of the commandments is the greatest in the Law (v.36)?”

And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ (v.37). This is the first and greatest commandment (v.38).The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself (v.39).’ He told them that the whole Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments” (v.40). That’s what love has to do with it. The Pharisees’ motive for asking Jesus what the greatest commandment of the Law is, was not genuine. They wanted to trap Him into contradicting the Law so they could use it against Him. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, that is how the devil works; therefore, stay alert to the wiles of the devil. Love God and your neighbors. 

Give God a hand clap of praise.

Luke 13:15-17

In vv. 15-16 Jesus answered the angry ruler of the synagogue, who was probably a Pharisee. He showed a lack of spiritual understanding about the good works of the Lord. Can you imagine the sting this woman, who was just healed, and the rest of the congregation must have felt when the ruler of the synagogue demanded there be no healing on the Sabbath day? How selfish and heartless he was! 

Jesus called him out. “You hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it (v.15)?” This was not the first time Jesus dealt with the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. His question about the fact that they loose their ox or their donkey from its stall and lead it away to water it on the Sabbath revealed the synagogue ruler’s hypocritical, or pretentious, attitude. They thought that healing the woman on the Sabbath was not as important as watering their thirsty animals on the Sabbath. Both were God’s creation and deserved mercy. Perhaps they forgot that the Sabbath was made for man… (Mark 2:27a) or chose to ignore it. 

Jesus continued, “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath (v.16)?” After saying these things, all His enemies were ashamed, but all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that Jesus had done (v.17).

Hallelujah! To God be the glory.