Where Are You Putting Your Trust?

 

Proverb of the Week

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD. - Proverbs 21:31 (ESV)

Throughout much of history, due to their size and strength, horses provided a huge advantage in war, so much so that Israel was warned multiple times not to put all their faith in them, but rather to put their faith in God. Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”   

An obvious application for today, when we see so many abominations being embraced in our land, is that even though we may rightly support politicians for the day of election, victory belongs to the LORD.

While there is still value in preparation for battle, since our battle is spiritual rather than physical, spiritual preparation should take precedence. Therefore, as we see the forces of darkness massed against us, we should take our marching orders from Ephesians chapter 6 and first put on the whole armor of God.

A Clear Case of an Epidemic

There is an epidemic of this in the world today. What was once called situational ethics has, primarily due to the slime of "higher education" oozing down into public schools as it morphed into each person having "their own truth." 

 

Proverb of the Week

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,

but the LORD weighs the heart. 

- Proverbs 21:2 (ESV)

In the book of Deuteronomy, Israel is warned against everyone doing what is right in his own eyes, and Proverbs 12:15 even warns that “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes”, In the book of Judges, twice its stated that “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” and both times this was associated with the nation falling into sin and disorder. The phrase “there was no king in Israel” suggest that the rule and leadership of a king would counteract this practice of every man doing what is right in his own eyes, but we live in a democratic republic and have no king, so are we left with no way of discerning right from wrongs? By no means! I would simply remind everyone that we do have a King. King Jesus. He is on his throne and right here in our Bibles he has left sufficient guidance to know what is right in the eyes of God.

 

The Spirit of Man vs the Spirit of God

 

Proverb of the Week

The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.              - Proverbs 20:27 (ESV)

The spirit of man, as spoken of here, may be understood as that aspect of living creatures which separates humans from animals; a self-awareness which transcends the physical body. When this spirit of man searches his own heart to recognize good and evil we might refer to it as his conscience, which is a gift from God given to every man, but not to be confused with the Spirit of God which dwells only within believers. When an unbeliever’s will overrules his conscience to surrender to his wicked desires repeatedly and consistently, that lamp will become little more than a flickering ember that is swallowed up by the darkness. In contrast, God has promised that his Spirit, once dwelling within us, will never leave us, and it is this Holy Spirit who provides the light which can never be extinguished. As John 14:16-17 tells  us: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

As further support for this understanding of the Proverb, I would cite 1 Corinthians 2:11-12 which says: For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.