Good Morning “Fire Extinguishers.” Today we are in Proverbs 15.
The tongue is a powerful thing (James 3:1-12)! With it we can lift someone up or tear them down! Often when we are stressed or frustrated we lose control of it. A question comes in the heat of the moment and we respond hastily.
Additionally we’ve all had someone come to us fired up! Angry at something or someone. Our nature is to seek allies in our distress. Think about it, if we are depressed, we want someone to be depressed with us, if we are frustrated - same. If we are angry, we seek those who will jump on the band wagon with us and be angry too. God would have us respond differently in all situations:
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 NIV
A gentle response doesn’t feed the fire, in fact it extinguishes it. Try it sometime. Next time someone comes to you hot under the collar offer a wise, gentle word. Watch as the jets are cooled.
This Proverb stuck out to me as well: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29 NIV
I am reminded that although we do not consider ourselves wicked, apart from the saving Grace of Jesus that is exactly what we are (Jeremiah 17:9). We read a passage like Prov 15:29 and likely think, “Thank God I’m not wicked.” However; consider this, when we embrace our flesh, harboring unconfessed sin, we have chosen wickedness and thereby distance ourselves from our Lord and Savior. Furthermore, our prayers ARE indeed hindered (Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:12). Consider the disobedient child who then asks for blessing.
“Please help me do the dishes.” “No.”
“Can I have some ice cream?”
“Are you joking right now?”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
I believe this passage speaks both to the moment of confession at salvation, and maintaining our relationship with Jesus after salvation. It is only through Jesus that we can hope to be seen as righteous and therefore have our prayers heard.
Love you all! Dig in!
The tongue is a powerful thing (James 3:1-12)! With it we can lift someone up or tear them down! Often when we are stressed or frustrated we lose control of it. A question comes in the heat of the moment and we respond hastily.
Additionally we’ve all had someone come to us fired up! Angry at something or someone. Our nature is to seek allies in our distress. Think about it, if we are depressed, we want someone to be depressed with us, if we are frustrated - same. If we are angry, we seek those who will jump on the band wagon with us and be angry too. God would have us respond differently in all situations:
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 NIV
A gentle response doesn’t feed the fire, in fact it extinguishes it. Try it sometime. Next time someone comes to you hot under the collar offer a wise, gentle word. Watch as the jets are cooled.
This Proverb stuck out to me as well: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Proverbs 15:29 NIV
I am reminded that although we do not consider ourselves wicked, apart from the saving Grace of Jesus that is exactly what we are (Jeremiah 17:9). We read a passage like Prov 15:29 and likely think, “Thank God I’m not wicked.” However; consider this, when we embrace our flesh, harboring unconfessed sin, we have chosen wickedness and thereby distance ourselves from our Lord and Savior. Furthermore, our prayers ARE indeed hindered (Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:12). Consider the disobedient child who then asks for blessing.
“Please help me do the dishes.” “No.”
“Can I have some ice cream?”
“Are you joking right now?”
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 NIV
I believe this passage speaks both to the moment of confession at salvation, and maintaining our relationship with Jesus after salvation. It is only through Jesus that we can hope to be seen as righteous and therefore have our prayers heard.
Love you all! Dig in!
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