11/11/2021 – Day 208 – Proverbs 13 – two themes, one connecting to what our Moms drilled into us from a young age…
I have three verses in Proverbs 13 that really caught my attention this morning. When we active posting, at least in a single local men’s bible study and remnant fellowship group, it would be interesting the different verses selected by each brother that ring out, given that brother’s life challenges at that point in time. As individuals, our verses will change from each read through the Bible.
Theme One – Verse 20: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” This connects directly with what my Mom constantly reminded me: “Birds of a feather flock together!” This is an intuitive “no-brainer” , no? So, why can’t we put it in practice? I am going back to my old familiar secular example in the military, the SEALs. Their early training is beyond difficult, to the point of stretching the imagination. But, once, they are assigned to active units, they just keep pushing themselves beyond where they think they can go. It is a way of life.
So it is as we rebuild the walls of Christian remnant men’s groups. We witness to lost souls, even at the risk of personal safety as the world gets increasingly evil by the day seemingly. But internally, we hang out in in our remnant group to continually build each other up: spiritually, mentally and even physically to fulfill our Ephesians 6:13 mission, much on the order of the SEAL tradition. For the SEALs have future Christians in their units, but it represents God’s common grace. So, in starting out, if you are taking a movie break, pick out a documentary on the stories of medal of honor winners. Every little bit helps to stretch beyond where we think we can go. The Holy Spirit does the work but he asks us to participate to God’s glory, and that, at least initially involves perceived suffering and sacrifice for the greated good of fellow souls. If yesterday was a higher bar leaped over, set the bar higher today and each day going forward. By God’s grace, flush yesterday’s failures, and treat today as a new creation, a gift from Jehovah Jireh!
Theme Two with two related verses:
Verse 10: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”
Verse 18: “He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.”
I recall once again, the wisdom theme one of my favorite Christian leadership conference segments: “Conflict is “sine qua non” to growth!” “Sine qua non” synonym = A prerequisite, a necessary pre-condition for moving to the next desired step. So , in general terms, the church, the one body of Christ is messy! Get over it!; work through it!
My vote for the most often repeated verse by future Christians is “judge not lest you be judged”. The Apostle Paul makes a clear distinction though between future believers and current Christians in the body of Christ. In other words, God forbid we don’t discipline those in the body of Christ. The “judge not” , as it is interpreted to include that unwanted discipline, applies to those who are not yet in the faith. This is one example amongst many where a single verse is taken completely out of context for our own sinful “comfort”. And don’t you know we love “comfortable” in the flesh. It just “feels so good!”
https://www.gotquestions.org/church-discipline.html
Arm up to His glory!
Soli Deo Gloria!