Virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love are popularly known as the Christian graces. (2 Peter 1:5-7) But that makes it sound like they come free with our faith.
Looking closer, Peter said to be diligent to supplement our faith with these things! (v. 5)
That means in order to bear the fruit of the Spirit, we have to keep training ourselves to practice these qualities (v. 8)
Maybe we should be calling them the Christian objectives!
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but he is pleased with honest weights – Proverbs 11:1 NCV
When one takes a measurement of something, she is only comparing the object against another. When we react to our environment, we mentally gauge everything we see, hear and do against some other standard in that exact same way.
Baseball sized hail is dangerous. A baseball sized scoop of ice cream is not quite enough.
When you find yourself justifying a decision you are about to make, do you measure it against the standards of men or of God?
If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you will live among the wise. – Proverbs 15:31 NCV
Two variations of this advice that are now a bit cliché:
We become as knowledgeable as our five closest friends
or
We become as rich as our five closest friends.
Choosing who we spend our time with is our most critical decision because they will become the source of our advice. Living among those wiser, richer or kinder provides us the examples and correction we need to be like them.
Acting on that correction helps keep us among them.
Doing what is right makes a nation great,
but sin will bring disgrace to any people. – Proverbs 14:34 NCV
I wrote about this verse a few years ago when some extraordinary things were happening here and around the world. The things that were happening then seem pale by comparison to some of the events today. What will another few years bring?
This country was founded as a country that recognizes the God of the Bible and her founding documents refer to Him numerous times. If we continue to allow “separation of church and state” to mean that God is not allowed in our government, I’m afraid He will go ahead and leave.
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring. – Proverbs 27:1
Depending on tomorrow and not on God is unwise. Delaying spiritual things in favor of earthly things never turns out well when the Bible addresses them:
James 4:13-15 – Life is short.
Luke 12:16-21 – Do not lay up treasure for yourself.
Matthew 6:33-34 – Seek first the Kingdom of God.
If you are waiting around to take care of something, now may be a good time to rethink that.
A hot furnace tests silver and gold,
but the Lord tests hearts. – Proverbs 17:3 NCV
Gold has been a precious metal through time because its intrinsic value comes from its utility. When subjected to extreme heat, it does not discolor or lose weight, and it remains a near perfect conductor of heat and electricity.
The fake stuff only looks nice – avoid testing it as gold because it will just burn away.
Job understood this as his heart was tested (Job 23:10). He made up his mind to survive his trials with a pure heart and chose to “come out as gold”.
Paul gave Timothy the formula for purifying our hearts (2 Tim 2:21-22). Jesus revealed the reward for the pure in heart (Matt 5:8).
Will you survive God’s test?