The Plowing of The Wicked

VERSE:                                  Proverbs 21:4

A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin.

REFLECTION:

I am very intrigued by this verse. If we have too much pride in ourselves, thinking that by our hand alone we accomplished the goal, then we have sinned. How many of you take pride in the work you do? This is okay. It is not acknowledging God's role that pride is a sin. If we accomplish something and take all of the credit instead of acknowledging who blessed us with the gift in the first place then we have sinned. But if we accomplish something and praise God for His wonderful works then it is okay to accept pride as long as it is pride for the Lord.

The whole of this verse really indicates to us that God doesn't want us walking around thinking we are better then the next person. All of us are sinners and all of us need a Savior. But if we walk around with pride, looking down on others as if they are worthless or less privileged then we have sinned. Plowing in this context means to basically plow them under with the spiritual pride. When you plow you till up the soil and over turn the dirt. God doesn't want us taking our faith and trying to turn over the soil or the dirt of the unbeliever's heart. By coming across to unbelievers that we are better then them we have sinned against God. We will also turn the unbelievers off to God. God created each one of us as equal heirs to His kingdom and regardless of a person's faith each of us are no better than the next person. God doesn't want us puffing our chests out and walking around in pride. Turning our noses up to unbelievers and trying to tell them what is wrong with them. Instead God wants us to humbly show others the truth of Jesus Christ. Share the gospel with them and then once they have given their life to Jesus watch Jesus work wonders in their life. I know that God changed many things about me after I gave my life to Him. I know He will do the same for you or the next person. Don't let the pride get in the way of sharing the gospel with others. Let Jesus guide you daily and avoid the pratfalls of pride.

PRAYER:

Pray for a humble spirit. Pray for others who are lost. Pray for Pride in Jesus but not pride in self.

Ask and Receive

VERSE:                               John 16:23‑24

    And in that day you will ask Me nothing.  Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

REFLECTION:

    How is your prayer life?  Do you always pray in Jesus' name or someone else's name?  When we pray we are always praying to the Father but He only hears and answers our prayers if we pray in Jesus' name.  We can't pray to Peter, Paul, or Mary‑‑they are only people and they cannot take our petitions to the Father.  Only the true Son of God, Jesus, can be the mediator between our prayers and the Father in heaven. 

    If we ask the Father anything in Jesus' name, He will give it to us.  Does that mean we can ask for a million dollars?  You can ask, but you probably won't receive.  Your requests must be aligned with the will of God for your life.  We cannot dictate to God what we want and when we want it.  If we truly love God, then our desires will be aligned with His desires for our life.  We need to be praying for things like wisdom, discernment, protection, and God's compassion.  Then and only then will our joy be full.  Our joy shouldn't be in earthly things but in the things of God.  Do you get more excited when you buy a car or when God shares something intimate about His Word to you?

    Start today by praying in Jesus' name and pray for spiritual desires because those are the things that will truly bring you joy.

PRAYER:

    Pray for something spiritual that you desire.  Pray for the love of God to be poured out in your heart.  Pray for your joy to be full.

Selling Souls

VERSE:                               Mark 8:36‑37

    For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

REFLECTION:

    You hear many people joke about selling their soul to the devil for something?  But this verse tells us that it will profit us nothing to sell our soul for the things of this world.  What do you value as important?  Are your sights set on the things of this world or the heavenly things above?  Many of us can get caught up in the worldly things, cars, money or success.  All of these items are merely fleeting, gone when we pass away.  Our soul however remains eternally with us.  Where would you want your soul spending eternity?  Under the bondage of sin and the vast chasm of torment and darkness known as hell.  Or the freedom of song and music with the bright shining light of Jesus set before us on the golden streets of heaven.

    Jesus was tempted by satan and asked to sell His soul to satan and in return satan would give Him the world.  How stupid is satan to believe that the Son of God, who already has the world as well as the whole universe would give it all up for nothing.  Satan has nothing to offer.  This world has nothing to offer.  It doesn't matter how much money you have or how many cars you own, when you die you can't take it with you.  But your soul will always be with you, so if you do not give your soul to God you will lose it to satan.  Next time you think of the covetous of the world and the lies of satan remember that there is no profit in the world but many treasures in heaven.

PRAYER:

    Pray for discernment when tempted by the things of this world.  Pray that God will lead you away from temptation and the evil one.

Pray in Love

VERSE:                                                 1 Peter 4:7-8

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

REFLECTION:

How do you treat others?  How is your prayer life?  Two questions that I believe are being asked in these verses.  The first part of this verse is asking us how our prayer life is because the end is near.  It is important that we be in constant prayer.  We must be praying for each other, pray for unbelievers and pray for the world around us.  In Matthew 24 it speaks of wars and rumors of wars as being a sign of end times.  It also speaks of “famine, pestilence and earthquakes.”  All of these things will come to pass.  It is important that we pay attention to the world around us.  There are many wars throughout the world and there is much calamity in many parts of the world.  We must pray for the world around us and pray that we can discern how close the end is near. 

With that in mind we must have a fervent love for one another.  Because that love “will cover a multitude of sins.”  But how do we show that love to others so their sins are covered?  We want them to be saved so if we truly love them we will pray for them and tell them about the gospel of Christ.  We must be fervent in our prayers for others so they will come to the knowledge and acceptance of Christ Jesus as their Savior.  What a great way to show your love than to pray for those who are lost. 

Looking back on the questions that are posed, How do you treat others?  With the love of Christ or the disdain of satan.  It is your choice but choose correctly.  How is your prayer life?  Is it me centered or God centered?  Are you praying for others or yourself?  Show you love for others by praying for them.

PRAYER:

Pray for the world around you.  Pray for friends and relatives who are lost.  Pray for a heart full of the love of Christ so you can share it with others.