Proverbs 12:24-28 Encouragement from God!

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor. Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession. In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death. Proverbs 12:24-28

Good word makes it glad.

Good: an agreeable, pleasant to the higher nature

Word: saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse

Glad: cheer up, make joyful, be make merry

Choose his friends carefully.

Friend: companion, an associate, neighbor

Choose: the righteous searches out, and is a guide to, his friend

I think Proverbs 12:25 and 26 go hand in hand. A good word makes us glad; choose friends carefully. Friends are usually the ones that have a good word for us! It's important to have godly friends to help put things in perspective. 

Good, agreeable—but not just a word to make one feel good, or what a person "wants" to hear. Rather, this "good" is from the perspective of "higher nature", think of it as "encouragement from God." Now how cool is that? That you can be used to share encouragement from God! Now that is an awesome responsibility and privilege. 

As I look back, I can't say that "I chose my friends." Rather, God in His gracious and unique ways introduced me to people who became my friends. I'm so very thankful for those people in my life who encourage, sharpen, and help keep me thinking godly. 

If I want to share encouragement from God, and be a godly friend to others, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG). For when I am fearing and respecting and loving God, I can then, be used share encouragement from God! 

Advice

Ruth 3:1-3

When one first reads these verses, it seems strange that a virtuous woman would suggest what Naomi advised Ruth to do. However, it's based on the law (Deuteronomy 25:5). 

Ruth had been working hard in the fields gathering grain. Now that the harvest time was over, Naomi, knew that Ruth needed a home where she would be cared for, and not have to work in the fields. Ruth had been working in the fields belonging to Boaz. And since Boaz was a kinsman, Naomi thought it was the right thing that Ruth present herself to Boaz. 

Boaz even though he was wealthy and had field of grain, he worked himself at the winnowing the barley. Winnowing is removing the chaff, usually by allowing the wind to blow through the harvested grain. The chat which is light will blow away, while the heavier falls to the ground. 

Naomi, then tells Ruth to make herself presentable. Some commentators suggest that she not wear her mourning clothes (from losing her husband); other suggest that she simply put on her "Sunday best" rather than the clothes she wore to work in the fields. Either way, she was to make herself presentable to Boaz. 

Ruth was not to run into the place where Boaz was, nor was she to make a scene. Rather, she was to privately wait and keep herself from being known. Ruth remained humble and followed Naomi's instruction. 

Ruth's character did not change in these verses. Ruth remained obedient, humble, and willing to listen to Naomi's advice. Ruth trusted Naomi and Naomi knew that Ruth would do what she advised. 

Advice. It can be a good thing. But coming from the wrong people with the wrong motive, it can be dangerous. It's key that the source of the advise have wisdom and integrity. It is also key that when the advice is solid and godly advise, that all of it be followed. You don't just follow the parts you like, it all must be obeyed. 

How does one know if advise is godly? Compare it to God's Word. If the advice goes against what God says, then it's NOT good advice. Also, consider the source of the advice. Has that person been trustworthy in the past? Is that person one of integrity? 

With a heart permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), it's easier to discern when advise is good. And when my heart is ready to accept good advise, it's much easier to follow through on the advice. 

Relationships

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.   

Wives, be subject to your husbands [subordinate and adapt yourselves to them], as is right and fitting and your proper duty in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives [be affectionate and sympathetic with them] and do not be harsh or bitter orresentful toward them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers, do not provoke or irritate or fret your children [do not be hard on them or harass them], lest they become discouraged and sullen and morose and feel inferior and frustrated. [Do not break their spirit.]

Colossians 3:18-21 (AMP)

These verses move from how we conduct ourselves in general and with other believers (Colossians 3:1-17) to a more personal setting — relationships in the home. 

Wives, Husbands, Children. 

In today's "feminist" society, verse 18 is frowned upon. But the verse has to be taken into context with verse 19 as well. A husband who loves his wife with the godly love that is based on Christ's love, treats his wife well. And in turn a wife with that same love will allow the husband to be the head of the home and support him. It's all based on the previous verses. This doesn't just happen by magic, no it's all based on "putting on" the character traits listed before. 

Verse 20 address the last relationship of the family—Children. Once again, as the wife and husband demonstrate godly love toward one another and allow Christ to be the leader of the home, children then learn how to obey out of love and respect. 

And the motivation is not for a sticker, or prize, rather simply because it is pleasing to the Lord. And that should be the ultimate motivation for each of us in all we do—because it is pleasing to the Lord. 

Verse 21 again focuses on the Father, the head of the home. The father is to teach and train the child in the things of God and encourage the child as they learn and grow. The "Father/Husband" is an important and vital role in the home. And the other way a Father/Husband can fulfill his responsibility is by having "put on" each item listed in Colossians 3:1-17. 

Even if you are not a wife/husband, you can see from these verses that if we "put on" godly characteristics and if pleasing God is our motivation for living a godly life,  then it will affect each and every area of our lives and our relationships. 

In order to live a life that is pleasing to God—that affects each relationship, my heart must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31, MSG).

Taking Pleasure And Going On Securely In It

  If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all. 

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

 This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.  

It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will), Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. Colossians 3:6-7 (AMP)

Sin is a road or path, in which sinners walk a way of their own, or of their own choosing and approving, though a dark and crooked one, and which leads to destruction: walking herein denotes a continued series of sinning, a persisting in it, a progress therein, a proceeding from evil to evil, taking pleasure, and going on securely in it. John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

"which sinners . . . of their own choosing . . . proceeding from evil to evil, taking pleasure, and going on securely in it" — All in defiance of Holy Almighty God. 

God is a God of love, that's why He provided a way of salvation, but He is also a holy just God—that too is why He provided a way of salvation (sin had to be paid for). 

As I search my own heart and life, are there sins which I am choosing? Am I proceeding from evil to evil taking pleasure and going on securely in my sin? Remember to God—SIN is SIN, period. There are no "little sins" and "big sins"—just sin, against a Holy and Just God. 

It's often easy to justify that I am "good" since, well, I haven't murdered anyone. But I'm not the standard by which sin is measured. The Standard is God Almighty. So, I am not "good", rather I am a sinner, saved by God's almighty grace. 

Taking pleasure and going on securely in it. Instead of that being said about sin, I'd rather it be said about me living a godly life. Taking pleasure in obeying God and going on securely in living a life pleasing and honoring Him. 

Taking pleasure and going on securely living a godly life, is only possible when I am permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Move in Day; Labels

Move in Day has arrived! Yesterday, Cathy and Bob took over a couple of loads of items including the living room chairs. This afternoon, the Gang will unload the trailer.

And then the next few weeks....months..whenever, I'll unpack the boxes. When I packed the boxes, each was marked and color coded (Black: living room & kitchen; Blue: bedroom & bathroom; Green: crafts; Red: Fragile). If the box contains something which I'll need right away, it's marked with "NOW" or "ASAP".  That should help me find the necessities.

Wouldn't be nice if God marked items in our life with easy to read codes? Don't do, do now, save for later, be ready for...., etc. I like the "easy" to know aspects of God's will: the 10 commandments for example. It's spelled out. Yet, at times I still don't follow through on those instructions. And then there are those times in life that take discernment; those can be difficult.

God gave us instructions in the Bible, and the reason He didn't just give us the "complete list" of dos and don'ts is because we don't need the list.... God gave us the principles which apply in all areas of our lives. The only way to learn those principles is the read the Bible and allow the Holy Spirit to direct us.

However, sometimes I find myself in situations where I'm not sure what God would have me do. If I could just read a label, it would be so much easier. Then I'd be able to KNOW I was doing the correct thing. But that's not how life works. That's why I need to continually be searching God's word and learning, so that when a situation arises, I have the knowledge of what to do. 

Even though I can't go through life reading labels, I'm thankful that God is a forgiving God and that He continues to teach me. As I learn more about Who God is, and His will, the better choices I'll make in the future. 

The goal each day is to create a positive day, and that can be done without any labels. Perhaps I didn't do something correctly, at least my heart was in the right place and I was striving to be godly. That is what God asks of us... to act godly. And if my mindset is focused on God and His will, than the overall day will be positive.