Choosing Her

In recent excursions in Proverbs I have been confronted by two women.  One is the alluring temptress who uses her flattering words and her seductive looks to lure men into her snare.  The adulteress appeals to the urges within to draw a man away from common sense and onto a path leading to destruction.  It is a destruction which devastates himself and all those around him.  She is described in detail in Proverbs 2:16-19; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:1-27.

The other woman is Wisdom.  She too is alluring.  But not due to any sensual appeal.  She holds life and peace in her hands.  In her home is sweet sleep and robust feasts.  She equips for life and ushers the willing heart into the presence of God.  Her credentials are recorded in Proverbs 1:20-33; 3:13-18; 8:1- 9:12.

This Wisdom that Solomon discusses is the design behind creation (Proverbs 8:22-31).  If Wisdom has enabled the beauty and stability of all created things, is She not a desired mate for my life which ambles about within that same creation?  I would be a fool to choose the one who leads me away from the design of creation – who leads me away from life and toward death.

My time spent at the feet of Wisdom is not a mere intellectual engagement.  It is not simply a course in the appreciation of ancient literature.  It is a classroom which introduces me to life and ushers me into a life enhanced by the One who made all things.  Read the wisdom of God voraciously and discover life in all its fullness.  Hold wisdom close.  Let her be your constant companion.

Very Religious

Today, as I was reading in 2 Chronicles 33, I was intrigued by Mannaseh, king of Judah.  This guy had a horrible start to his reign, but finished well (see a couple posts ago).  He dabbled in everything evil.  He brought a “revival” of idolatry to Judah, even dragging it into the Temple of God.  His father, Hezekiah, had worked diligently to purge the land of the “high places” and within no time the son had polluted the land with numerous idols and altars.  He offered his own sons as burnt sacrifices.  He also practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft and consulted mediums and spiritists.  He was a very religious guy!

I thought about that passage in Acts 17 where Paul, alone in Athens, wanders about and notes the plethora of gods.  In speaking to the great thinkers of that ancient city, he tells about what he saw while walking about their city and he says (very tongue-in-cheek) “I see that in every way you are very religious.”

The humor has a piercing point.  Religion is not what God desires.  Religion is merely man’s attempt to fashion and control a higher power.  God desires for us to be caught by Him.  He desires that our hearts will be turned to our Creator in adoration and humble obedience.

I must always beware of dabbling in religion.  It is easy to salve my conscience by noting how well I am doing in Bible reading and Scripture memory and prayer times and serving others.  But unless I am growing toward God in devotion, I am giving myself to a practice that is more deadly than life-giving.  God detests religion.  He condemned ancient Israel for offering sacrifices and following the letter of the law while their hearts were far from Him and injustices were being perpetuated on the weak in society.  Check out James 1:26-27.

The focus of everything is God.  My times in the Bible must always be about drawing near to God.  Same thing with prayer, service, worship, evangelism, etc.  God is center stage.  Is He being glorified in my life?  Am I finding my joy in Him, and Him alone?

Don’t seek religiosity.  Seek to be Godly.

Two-Sevenths

That is how far we are in our journey together.  We have finished 2 of 7 studies.  You all have done fantastic!  The zeal you have shown in consistent attendance, Scripture memory, Bible study and sharing in discussions has been an encouragement to me.

It has been an extra blessing to see the way in which you have bonded together to care for each other and your desire to fellowship outside of our Wednesday night meetings.  I have also been encouraged to see how the Word of God is growing in each of you.  As you read, study, and memorize, you are being convicted about sin, being moved to obedience, and are becoming more sensitive to God’s Spirit prodding you in directions that honor Him.

You are in a groove now.  But a groove is not far from a rut, so continue forward with joy.  Continue to pray that these disciplines draw you near to your Father.  Pray for a heart that grows in obedience.  Live by faith as you learn, or your developed habits will become chaffing shackles.

Ahead of us is a study on prayer.  This is going to be great stuff!  This is so crucial in the life of a Jesus-follower.  I can tell you that the times in my life that are unfruitful and lackluster are directly a result of prayerlessness.

I want to encourage you to become a prayer pioneer.  Be willing to venture into new territory.  You will be challenged to pray longer, to pray for a broader range of things, to pray with others.  Some of you are reluctant to pray out loud around others.  No one will force you to do it, but just remember you can start very simply.  Remember that you aren’t talking to the people around you, but to God.  Remember that when the church prays together, amazing things happen.

One more thing.  As a way of accountability, please consider checking in on this blog to report your Scripture reading each day.  Just click on the “Comments” under the most recent post and tell us what you read.  If you want to share any insights on it, that is up to you.  By the way, I read 2 Chronicles 29-32 this morning.  Hezekiah was a great man of God.