Tag Archives: Proverbs 27:18-20

November 15, 2015 Bible Study — Do Not Allow the Desire For Instant Gratification Overcome the Need For Long Term Planning

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

DSCN9753

Proverbs 27:18-20

    How we live our lives reflects our hearts in much the same way a mirror reflects our face. If we have God in our hearts people will see it in how we live.

DSCN9754

Psalm 113-114

    Serve the Lord by praising His name wherever you find yourself. God’s glory is greater than any that can be found on earth, or in heaven. God will lift up the poor and sit them among the elites. He gives the childless families. He rescues the oppressed. Praise the Lord for the great things He has done.
    When God’s people follow His lead obstacles get out of their way. Even when those obstacles are geographic features. The psalmist reminds us that even the Red Sea moved aside to allow God’s people to pass. Let us remember that, if we follow God’s lead, the same thing will happen before us.

DSCN9755

Hebrews 12:14-29

    There is a lot in this passage. The writer goes from point to point. He makes a lot of good points. However, the one which convicts me this morning is what he says about Esau. Esau sacrificed long term good for short term gratification. I know that I struggle with that same problem. All too many times I have made a decision to satisfy my short term desire at the expense of my long term good. I know that I will pay a penalty for doing so. I sincerely ask God to help me overcome this weakness.

DSCN9756

Ezekiel 31-32

    Ezekiel prophesies that Egypt’s destruction came about because it became proud and arrogant. The Egyptians thought they were so far above all other nations that they did not need to concern themselves with world affairs. They saw themselves as a strong young lion, as a mover and shaker in world affairs who could do as they pleased. When, in fact, they were nothing more than a large crocodile, powerful and dangerous in their element, but vulnerable to those who knew how to approach them.
    As I read this, Ezekiel’s prophesies concerning Egypt remind me of where the United States is today. The U.S. has made promises of support to Israel that it is considering reneging on. The people of the U.S. view themselves as special above all others, without taking any responsibility to use those abilities to make the world better. God’s judgment will come on the nation if the people do not turn to Him once more.

November 15, 2014 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I am home from my business trip. Praise God that the whole trip went without incident. I want to thank all of you who prayed for me while I was travelling.

DSCN6881

Proverbs 27:18-20

    We cannot see what is in someone’s heart to judge why they took a particular action. However, we can get a pretty accurate picture by looking at their entire life. Individual acts do not tell us much about what is going on in someone’s heart, but, if we see how they treat others day in and day out we will get a pretty clear picture of what they think of others. Does my life reflect the love of God which I claim lives in my heart?

DSCN6886

Psalm 113-114:8

    God, the Creator of the Universe, cares about each and every individual. Let us praise God because, even though He has created a Universe so great and large that the Solar System is insignificantly small, He cares enough about individual people to lift them up and save them.

DSCN6889

Hebrews 12:14-29

    The writer echoes something which Paul said in Romans. We are to do what we can to live at peace with everyone. The writer here tells us that, in addition to striving to live at peace with everyone, we are to live a holy life. Living at peace with others is part and parcel of living a holy life, but if others refuse to live at peace with us because we live a holy life, that is not our problem.
    The writer warns us that we must be careful to not allow bitterness to take root in our lives. If we allow it, bitterness will grow up in our lives and corrupt them. Beyond that our bitterness can corrupt others and separate them from the holiness of God.

DSCN6890

Ezekiel 31-32:32

    Sooner or later every mighty nation will fall. When a nation begins to believe that its might is a birthright which it earns just by being, that day is close. God will show His power and bring down that nation when they begin to think that their power and might is theirs by right. Mighty nations will only remain strong as long as they strive to do what is right. When they lose sight of the fact that might grows from doing the right things and starts to believe that their might makes all of their actions right, their end is in sight. I fear for our world because the political leaders of the world seem to have lost sight of this truth.

November 15, 2013 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

DSCN3295

Ezekiel 31-32:32

     Ezekiel wrote a prophecy against Egypt. His warning was that no matter how great and powerful a nation might become it was still subject to God. God has declared that He will hold nations accountable, no matter how powerful or wealthy they may become. No nation will ever be so powerful that it is not subject to God’s judgment.


DSCN3302

Hebrews 12:14-29

     The writer admonishes us to do everything within our power to live at peace with everyone. However, he gives a qualifier to that effort, he tells us to live holy lives. So, we are to do what we can to live at peace with everyone within the constraints of living holy lives. He warns us against bitterness, telling us how, if we allow it, it will grow up within us and defile us. Further the writer warns us against trading our long term happiness for immediate gratification of our desires.


DSCN3384

Psalm 113-114:8

     In today’s passage from Ezekiel we were told that God will bring the mighty and wealthy low. In this psalm we are reminded that He will lift the poor and needy up. Yes, I will praise the Lord. When God’s people follow His direction, even inanimate objects, such as rivers and seas, will get out of their way. Every obstacle will be removed from the path of those who serve the Lord.


DSCN3430

Proverbs 27:18-20

     Who we really are is reflected by the life we lead. Human desire will never be fully sated and attempting to do so leads to death and destruction.


November 15, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am back to a routine. It is not the same as my old routine, but I think it will work out well. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Singing of the Don Called Po

Ezekiel 31-32:32

     Ezekiel continues his prophecy against Egypt. But it is more than just a prophecy against Egypt. It is a prophecy against any nation or ruler that comes to believe that they are powerful in their own right and need not fear God. Ezekiel speaks of how Egypt will be brought low from great heights just as Assyria was. He discusses other nations that thought they were great and powerful, only to be brought low in God’s time for their sins. This is a lesson for us, we should never put our trust in worldly powers as sooner or later they will fail us. We must trust in God alone. We must also remember that God only raises up nations for as long as they serve His purpose in this world. When a nation stops furthering God’s purposes in this world He will bring it down.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Green Lane #272

Hebrews 12:14-29

     The writer tells us to work at living in peace with everyone and to work at being holy. It is not enough that we give a half-hearted effort at these things, we are to work at them. In addition, we should attempt to look after each other, so that all may receive the grace of God. We should strive to prevent bitterness from taking root, both in ourselves and in our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We must remember that we have come before God not in a time of fear and judgment but in a time of grace, with Jesus to mediate between us and the Almighty God. We should listen to the Spirit in this time of “shaking”. We must remember that the Kingdom which we are citizens of is unshakable and will not be shaken by any of the troubles of this world.

Earth & Sky #276

Psalm 113-114:8

     Let us praise the Lord, there is no one to whom He can be compared. He chooses to honor the poor and needy among the princes and wealthy. The only glory and honor that we should seek should be that given out by God. Let us rely on Him and praise Him so that we might receive happiness from Him.
     The Lord will make obstacles get out of our way as we work at serving His will. As long as we are executing God’s will on this earth nothing will stand in our way and we will find whatever resources we need to complete the task near to hand.

Water #279

Proverbs 27:18-20

     If we look out for the interests of those to whom we answer, we will be rewarded. It is possible to tell what is in a person’s heart by the way they live their life. No matter how much we have, it will not be enough to satisfy all of our wants.