Tag: A chapter a day

“No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD.”

That is why He is known as the LORD God Almighty.

“False weights and unequal measures—the LORD detests double standards of every kind.”

The Christian life is an open life. An honest life. A transparent life, too. Not a perfect life, but a perfect direction.

“The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”

Or, as my dear wife is fond of paraphrasing, “The righteous run into it and hide.” Either way, the idea is the same. The LORD is a strong fortress. He is our protection. Our security. Our hiding place.

“It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.”

I would never want to meet a mama bear estranged from her cubs. How dangerous then it must be to confront a fool caught in his foolishness. There is surely a right time to confront a fool—just when to do it is where wisdom comes in.

“We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.”

There is no such thing as “blind chance”. We do not live in a random universe. Even a roll of the dice is not random; there is just no way for us to measure all of the variables. The future is unknown to us, but not to God.

When we say that God has everything in control, it does not have to mean that all of our actions and reactions (and, as well, the actions and reactions of everyone on this planet) have been predetermined from eternity past, so that we are just acting out the script that has been handed to us.

No, the future is made up of choices. Yours. Mine. God’s. God knows the future, so he must know that part of the future has been left open, so to speak. Nevertheless, God’s purposes will be accomplished, according to his choices. The zeal of the LORD will perform this.

“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.”

The LORD delights in our prayers. Delights in them. How he must love us! Just as a father delights to hear from his children. O God, my Heavenly Father, how much more do you!

“Fear of the LORD is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”

A reverence for God has a way of turning one “inside out”‘ so to speak. Giving instead of taking. Listening more, talking less. Laying down instead of hoarding up.

“Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.”

Thoughts and actions are important, especially when the former precedes the latter.

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.”

The LORD detests lying lips because it so runs counter to who He is.  The word of the LORD created the heavens and the earth. The Word of the LORD is our salvation.

“A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.”

There’s a mental image for you—the next time you’re tempted to look at a lewd picture or YouTube video.