johnmarkharris.net

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

As brilliant as we might think we are, as much as we can create, and as much as we are impressed with ourselves, if we do not begin with a humble submission to the Lord’s instruction, we will end up off the rails and going off into a ditch. When someone comes to you with a criticism, receive it with gladness. The goal of our life is not for us to always be “right,” but for us to end up on the side of what is right. We must be willing to bend and change to conform ourselves to the truth, not try to simply prove we are right. God is God and we are not. Fear the Lord, trust him, have a deep respect and honor for him… don’t be a fool.

A person’s heart plans his way,
   but the Lord determines his steps.

“Just follow your heart” is terrible advice. On the one hand, your desires can be a great motivation for your life. In fact, God frequently uses our own passions to direct our paths, but we must be sure what we are actually doing is the right channel for what our heart is driving us to do. A love of one particular thing can drive us in many different directions. Use your emotions as a drive for what you do, but do what is God’s will for your life.

For the last month of the summer, I’m going to be posting here at the blog a proverb a day. It’s a long standing practice of mine to read the proverb which corresponds to that days date. So, July 1st we will read Proverbs 1, and on July 31st we’ll read Proverbs 31.

I’ll take just a snippet from each chapter, each day, and write a few thoughts about it. This is meant to serve as a reminder to read the whole proverb that day.

I always get so much wisdom from the proverbs… let’s read them together!

2Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

This is a statement about Jesus. He is (as verse 1 says) “our God and Savior.” He has “divine power” and so he not only wishes to do something, he is actually able to do it, he’s God. He “has given us” a great gift, and it’s “everything required,” there’s nothing you need that isn’t supplied. But it’s not just anything that’s needed to do whatever you want, it’s everything for “life and godliness” according to his plan. And it’s given, “through the knowledge of him.” Knowing Jesus is how we get everything we need to do all that God has made us to do. “who called us.” Jesus is calling you to know him and receive everything you need for all that he has made you for. And he is doing all this “by his own glory and goodness” so it’s not based on something you can earn. You don’t have to be good enough to get it, we just get it because of who he is, if we know him. Do you know him? Give him your life today. Trust in Jesus alone and receive this amazing gift!

It’s important to believe in Jesus. In fact, that’s our only hope.

Pistis is the Greek word “faith” “belief” “conviction”

Without this, Hebrews 11:6 tells us, it is impossible to please God.

But what about faith in yourself?

Oh, I know we are hopeless and can’t truly do anything apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, but do you have faith in yourself?

What kind of things would you wish you could do, that you just won’t try because you “believe” you would fail?

Listen, in John 6 (and Matthew 14 & Mark 6) Jesus came to his disciples walking on the water. Peter, being Peter, asked Jesus to call him to himself. So Jesus did. “Ok Peter, come on out, you can do this…” Jesus believed in Peter.

At first, things went well, then Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and onto the wind swept waves. He had fear, which is the opposite of faith.

Jesus’ response, as he caught Peter, preventing him from drowning, was “Oh you of little faith…”

Now, Peter didn’t doubt Jesus. Jesus wasn’t the one sinking. Peter jumped out of the boat because he saw Jesus walking on water. No, Peter didn’t have but little faith in Jesus, he had little faith in himself.

Don’t sell yourself short.

Sure, you’re totally depraved and there is no one righteous, not even one. But, if you’re a believer, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. What can’t God do through you? Nothing! I can do ALL THINGS through Him who gives me strength… real strength.

Yes, you can do all that God wants you to do. Don’t doubt, either Jesus or yourself.

You can do it!