Author: kezha1

The old saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, could be the, basis of this Proverb today.  The FTC reported that last year there was 2.1 million fraudulent reports of scammers, swindling the USA public out of some 19.7 Billion dollars.  When someone calls you out of the blue promising something or asking for personal information it should be a giant red flag.  That’s when this verse says we need to stop…give thought to the validity of the call…and ask the Lord for discernment between good and evil.  And then hang up!

The angel could of told them to flee and hide out…but instead he instructed them to go back to the Temple Courts. To be conspicuous…attracting attention and being very obvious to the same people who had seen them arrested the day before. The angel’s message was clear and concise…”Go preach the Gospel Message of eternal life through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And for many of the same people who had saw them arrested the day before, they might had thought, “The authorities must have released them without cause and given their blessing for them to be back here…let’s listen to them!”

Living to please God is a intentional and deliberate way of conducting our life. It’s made up of continuous daily choices…whether we do things that are within the Will of God or not…whether we make choices that He would recognize as well-pleasing…or not. And as children of light, Ephesians 5:10 tells us to find out what pleases the Lord…and we need to then make it our goal to please Him. (II Corinthians 5:9) It tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, (Hebrews 11:6)… this faith only coming from putting your trust in Jesus Christ and the Gospel Message.

Even though there was no love lost between the Edomites and the Israelites, they were still in the Community of Believers together, not separate…and should have been looking out for each other. But instead, the Edomites gloated when the Babylonians captured the city of Jerusalem. The prophecy of God’s vengeance against Edom for their total lack of compassion towards their brothers can be found in Ezekiel 25:12-14. And you can almost hear God’s contempt for their despicable actions in Job 6:27, “You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.” When our brother or sister in the Lord is going through a rough time, we need to be right beside them encouraging…not standing afar with a smile of malicious delight on our face.

Jesus made it very clear…He did not come spreading a feel-good, wishy-washy Gospel. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34) So when we choose to follow Him, there may be rejection…even from our immediate family. And that’s when we must decide where our priories and dedication lies. For, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37) Now, Jesus is not asking you to abandon your family…only that we can’t place them ahead of our service for Christ.

A Proverb that goes right along with this Verse is, “A patient man has great understanding, but a quick tempered man displays folly.” So let’s consider both and try to visualize for a moment…when we are short-tempered, impatient, and easily irritated it’s something we don’t even try and hide. It’s on full display, (like this huge thing sitting on our lap), in full view and evident to all. That’s why a man that’s slow to anger and even-tempered is full of discretion and wisdom, not folly and lack of good sense.

This Scripture shows the sovereignty and omnipotence of God.  Deuteronomy 32:39 says, ” See now that I Myself am He!  There is no god besides Me.  I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of My hand.”   God’s rule and power is autonomous and always perfect.  And what you might see as a real dichotomy in this verse, know that only God is aware of everything from beginning to end…only He knows every detail, backstory, and nuance…but most most importantly, only God can see around the corner.  Meaning, His eternal plan and purpose for each one of us is only for our good and His glory.

Jesus forged the way for us to be overcomers. In John 16:33 He said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” And so when we are born again, receiving new spiritual life, we are no longer held in the grip of the the world-view, man-centered selfishness, greed, violence, and self-glory of today. So through our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, we too can be victorious…for in all things we are more than conquerors! (Romans 8:37)

Both Titus and Timothy were young Pastors that the Apostle Paul was mentoring. His letters to them are called the “Pastoral Epistles” where he stresses the need to always speak, teach, and personally practice sound doctrine. In I Timothy 1:10 Paul writes to Timothy warning him about false Teachers, “and whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God…” We could all then take a lesson from Paul’s sage advice to Titus and Timothy. We must be very vigilant to keep the Gospel Message about the Kingdom of God and salvation through Christ true, pure, and uncorrupted…whether we’re speaking, teaching, or walking in it.

Before John wrote this in the Book of Revelation, before Jesus told His disciples that, ” the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done.” (Matthew 16:27), and even before the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, scribed, “See, your Savior comes! See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.” (Isaiah 62:11) The time of Christ’s Second Coming was already determined. And when Jesus does come back, each person will stand before Him to have their works examined and He will reward accordingly… in this life and in the hereafter.