Drawing Near to God

“‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” –James 4:6-8, 10 (ESV.  Read James 4:1-12).

James gives much practical advice for the Christian in how to conduct a godly life.  How to draw near to God is a theme throughout his epistle.  He spares no words in instructing his readers about living a life of faith and dedication to God.  His advice is that we are to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only” (1:22-25). He warns us against the sin of gossip, reminding us that the tongue is a little member of our physical makeup but can wreak havoc in stirring up trouble (3:1-12).  At the outset of his epistle, he reminds us that trials of various kinds can be expected in the Christian life.  Just because we are followers of God in no way insures that the road will be easy or the burden light.  But permeating the teaching of James is the assurance that God is near and ready to answer, to give strength in weakness and to walk with us through all trials of life.

Today’s focal passage begins with James quoting from Proverbs 3:34: “Toward the scorners He is scornful, but to the humble He gives favor.”  From the Septuagint, this would have been a familiar teaching for Jewish Christians.  And from a practical nature, as well as the admonition from another familiar proverb, Christians should know that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Drawing near to God involves a definite abeyance of an individual’s haughtiness and sense of self-sufficiency.  Humility is at the heart of drawing near to God.  It is recognition that we need a higher Power to guide and direct us, to be submissive to and to trust.  And just when we are ready to rely on God, the devil, that deceiver and tempter, will be present to tell us we do not have to rely on God, that we can, indeed, succeed on our own as we follow paths of least resistance.  Yet God is persistent and keeps urging us to ‘draw near’ to Him.  As James stated in 4:6, it is God who ‘gives more grace.’  And it is this gift of unmerited favor as we deliberately draw near to Him that strengthens us and gives us renewed determination to follow God.

Drawing near to God involves first, submitting to God.  This is a term with military connotation and means to get into one’s proper rank and position and follow the chain of command.  And then drawing near to God involves the worshiper’s humility before God.  Sometimes you may have heard someone voice a prayer such as this:  “Make me (us) humble, God.”  Humility must begin in the heart of the worshiper by confession of sins and turning from them—and certainly the sin of pride.  The worshiper must become humble of his/her own volition, an action of stripping self away and seeking cleansing and restoration.  “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, ESV).  The end results of drawing near to God are that our search for holiness and peace will be rewarded as He promises, “And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever” (Isaiah 32:17, ESV).

Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, that the spiritual exercise of drawing near to You cleanses, refreshes and strengthens us, for now and for all eternity.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen

Truth Will Triumph

“Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.” –Proverbs 16:13. (ESV).

We are in a period of time before our elections in November when the airways are filled with voices of persons running for public office.  The messages we hear often confuse us by the different viewpoints held by opposing candidates.  Where is truth, we wonder, and how can we know whom to believe?  From the welter of words can we decipher a modicum of dependable clarity that comes close to truth, to the reality of what can be understood and accepted?  I found some principles in Proverbs and elsewhere that should help us have some standards by which to weigh the campaign promises of those whom it is our duty to put into offices of our land as leaders.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:2:  “All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit” (ESV). The Message Bible by Eugene H. Peterson (NavPress, 2005) renders the verse thus:  “Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God probes for what is good.” This verse makes a strong case for us to be discerning, to put what we hear from candidates against the test of God’s standards as we find them in the Bible.  Recent events have cast a cloud over some of the happenings leading up to the 2012 election.  I write this—not to “take sides” politically, but to urge that each person should be conscience-led to make his/her own decisions.  This has come through truthful reports of the recent Democratic National Convention held in Charlotte, NC, and if you were watching you saw proceedings for yourself.  The leaders had made the choice to leave mention of God and Jerusalem out of their platform.  So much criticism came that when mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa was presiding, a motion was made on the floor to include the words in the platform.  A two-thirds majority was needed to carry the proposal.  He called for an “aye” voice vote, and many did voice their approval.  Then he asked for all opposed to say “no.”  Rev. Franklin Graham stated:  “I watched in horror and absolute disbelief at the deafening roar as delegates rejected including any mention of God’s name.” (from “Good News” Billy Graham Evangelistic Association newsletter, September 21, 2012, p. 1).  Mr. Villaraigosa called for two more votes, and each time the opposition was stronger to having God’s name excluded.  The presiding officer wielded his gavel and declared the vote approved.  How does this fit with Proverbs 12:2?  “All the ways of man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”  Jeremiah the prophet constantly warned Israel of the nation’s downfall and captivity by Babylon.  The reason Jeremiah gave repeatedly was “My people have forgotten Me, days without number” (Jer. 2:32b); “they have forgotten the Lord their God” (Jer. 3:21b); “You have forgotten Me and trusted in lies” (Jer. 13:25b); “my people have forgotten Me; they make offerings to false god” (Jer. 18:15a).  “Political correctness” has superceded “In God we trust.”  God help us!

Prayer.  Lord, we earnestly pray that our nation will listen and discern the truth amidst the welter of false promises and unsubstantiated claims.  I pray that we will not be led astray by those who claim to present the truth but it is only right in their eyes, not according to God’s standard.  Lord, we claim your promise in Proverbs 16:20:  “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.”  Let it not be too late for America to turn back to You, Lord.  Give us another opportunity to follow Your pathways for our nation.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Proverbs to Live By—Practice Discipline

“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him”. –Proverbs 13:24.  “A fool despises his father’s instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.” –Proverbs 15:5.”The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.” –Proverbs 15:31.  “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” –Proverbs 16:3.  “Even  a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” –Proverbs 20:11.  “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 (ESV).

I selected six pertinent verses from Proverbs on the subject of discipline.  The word translated discipline or correction is use thirty-one times in Proverbs.  That shows the weight it bears in the way life is conducted.  We think primarily of the obligation of parents to discipline their children.  And this is a God-given privilege as well as a grave responsibility in the family unit.  Children learn discipline and eventually become self-disciplined by learning that there are restrictions to be followed and parameters set.  And self-discipline is a life-long process.  We need discipline every day, that which we’ve learned ourselves either by our upbringing, or from what we may call “the hard knocks” of life brought about by wrong choices.

Proverbs 13:24 indicates that discipline by physical punishment (the rod) is acceptable.  More modern trends in child rearing question the wisdom of physical punishment.  Notice the last part of 13:24:  “he who loves him (the child) is diligent (steadfast, consistent) to discipline him.”  The Message Bible translates this verse:  “A refusal to correct is a refusal to love; love your children by disciplining them.”  Bible scholars note that 13:24 stems from an old Egyptian proverb that reads, “The ears of the young are placed on the back, and he hears when the back is flogged.”  We may smile at this ancient justification for using the rod in discipline.  Parenting is a privilege but it is also a grave responsibility.  We have the present and future of the children entrusted specifically to our care to bring up into responsible maturity.  Discipline begins young and it comes with a remarkable promise:  “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” We know that children brought up with good discipline can and do stray from it.  So then, what of this promise?  We hear often about “cutting the apron strings,” and we must come to a point when we allow children to assume responsibility for their own decisions and actions.  But when parents combine discipline with example of living an upright life before their children, and continue to surround the children with prayer and love—even when they are “on their own,”  the promise of Proverbs 22:6 can come to fruition.  This principle is a vital part of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.”  This applies to all phases of our work, and holds much weight in the work of being parents and bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Do we want to enjoy our children all of our lives, and even our children to the second and third generation as we become grandparents and great grandparents?  Then we should begin very early in the child’s life to correct and discipline, and be persistent and consistent in the training.  Discipline has to do with correcting behavior and character faults while the child is still young, before wrong conduct has time to be established.  Children cannot be “left to themselves.”  They need guidance of a positive and upbuilding nature.  Proverbs 29:17 states:  “Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul” (NKJV) 

Thank God that you personally were disciplined.  In your responsibilities for disciplining yourself and others, pray for wisdom and understanding necessary to practicing responsible discipline.

Requirements for Revival

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” –II Chronicles 7:14. (KJV)

Perhaps you, as I, memorized this verse a long time ago. Set in that definitive book of the Old Testament about revival, 2 Chronicles, this verse addresses God’s people, gives His four-fold requirements for revival, and His three-fold promises to send revival. Let us examine them:

The Requirements for Revival

1. Humble yourselves. In another place in the Bible we read, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18)
2. Pray. The Day of Pentecost was preceded by an earnest prayer vigil by gathered disciples, and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. Billy Sunday had a powerful prayer force behind his revival efforts, as does the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The great revival efforts, wherever they’ve occurred, have been “prayed down,” not “worked up.”
3. Seek God’s face. For revival, a church needs to get serious about seeking God. He wants us to experience revival. Are we ready for the changes such an awakening will bring?
4. Turn from wicked ways. Self-examination, confession, repentance—all are part of readying ourselves for revival.

God’s Promises for Revival

1. God will hear our prayers. Just as he was faithful to answer Solomon’s prayers in 2 Chronicles 6, so faithfully will He hear and answer our prayers today.
2. God will forgive our sins. “Forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” So advised Jesus when He gave us what we know as the Lord’s Prayer (Disciple’s Prayer). God specializes in forgiving sins. But first we must seek forgiveness, and forgive others who may have wronged us.
3. God will heal our land. Do we need God’s healing hand? Yes!

In closing, I quote the words of Wesley Duewel concerning 2 Chronicles 7:14: “God, at His own initiative, voluntarily gave us, His people, the covenant of revival in 2 Chronicles 7:14. He must be true to His covenant word, and He wants for us to fulfill our part.” God grant that we may, and that God will act according to His Word.