I’m back in Proverbs again. God recently instructed me to read one Psalm and one Proverb each day. Every time I read through Proverbs I feel so much wisdom in it. It is always new and informative.
As I’ve watched all the rioting and people looting, defacing property and being generally unruly, I’ve felt so grieved. It’s hard to imagine someone feeling as if that is appropriate behavior. Then I remember that it’s God that gives us a moral compass and apart from Him, this is the result. No doubt, some of those involved in these actions would say they are Christians, but we are known by our fruit, and that’s all I will say about that.
When I read this Proverb the other day, it really comforted my heart and reminded me that I am to continually be set apart, not drawn into the melee.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “come along with us; let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood, let’s waylay some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sort of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse- my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. Proverbs 1:8-19
First of all, this shows me that looting, etc. has been occurring forever. In Biblical times, it happened enough that it was addressed in scripture. I hope you always remember to read the Bible and believe it enough to realize that there’s nothing new under the sun. It’s actually not worse now than it ever has been. Look at Noah’s time. Sodom and Gomorrah. King Nebuchadnezzar. These are examples to remind you that God’s dealt with this stuff before. It’s not new to Him. He does have solutions. He knows what to do. We can count on Him.
Second, this reminds me that those who are committing all these crimes, have set themselves on a course of disaster. They will face what they’ve done. The reality is, they need Christ. We are seeing our fields, so to speak. These are the fields we are to be sowing into to receive the harvest of souls. Now is the time to ask God what part you are to play in bringing the gospel to OUR nation. This is our calling. When God said, “Go and make disciples of every nation.” that included our own nation. We got distracted from that for a while, I believe. The glory of the mission field is here too.
Prayer Moment: God, teach me how to share the gospel here in my everyday life. Help me to not be afraid to share You with those around me. Give me wisdom. Give me strategy. Help me to know when and how to reach out. I want to be in Your army. Guide and protect me, now and forevermore. In Jesus name, Amen.
365 Days in the Presence 