Posts Tagged ‘Solomon’

The path to eternal life is simply too simple

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013

Forgiven, May 21

To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your Holy sanctuary.

Also do not take to heart everything people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you.

Psalm 28:1-2, Ecclesiastes 7:21, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we cry out, we make requests of You, we seek You in times of trouble. Help us O’God, to develop a balance between asking and praise. We often ask too often and praise too little. Yet, we know You hear all of our words and know all of our thoughts. Such knowledge is too wonderful for us. Where, O’God, would we be without You?

When Solomon said “don’t take to heart everything people say” he was reminding us that people sometimes say too much, more than they truly feel. Help us to speak less and to mean more when we do speak and to never say harmful things when they are better unsaid. And when people do say things that are critical, help us not take it to heart but to return kindness when it is not expected or deserved. That is what You have done for us Jesus. You have extended kindness that exceeds understanding when we were yet in our sin. Can we do less for others? In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Religion, peace, wisdom | No Comments »

Pride, the subtle, but terribly effective, tool of Satan

Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

Humility, August 29

Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.
Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.
When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.
Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of the great;
For it is better that he say to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.
It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory.
 
Psalm 138:6,8, Proverbs 3:34, Proverbs 11:2,Proverbs 25:6-7,27 www.solascriptura.com

Father, we thank you for the words of David and Solomon, his son. Just as your mercy perfected that which concerned David, that same mercy is ours. The Wisdom of Solomon, which You gave, can be our wisdom as well.
 
Father, is there any sin more likely to be in our lives than pride? It seems not as we observe the actions of some of your most committed people. Help us notice how pride can creep into our lives. Show us how to convert prideful tendencies into joy in Your presence, joy in victories made possible by You. We are so tempted to “seek the best seat” but here you teach us how embarrassed, before You, we will be when we are asked to yield that seat to another.

Teach us not to seek our own glory but to look to meeting Your expectations of us. It is Your praise that we desire. Boy, is it hard not to be proud!  Bless us, we pray, in all that we do. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Humility, Providence of God, Religion, wisdom | 51 Comments »

Rescued by the very hand of God

Sunday, August 19th, 2012

Courage, August 19

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens;
By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.
My son, let them not depart from your eyes—keep sound wisdom and discretion;
So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.
Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3:19-26, www.solascriptura.com

Father, the magnificence of Your creation is constantly before us. You tell us that the clouds are as dust to Your feet and that You have named every star. Solomon advises us to never lose sight of Your omnipotence, Your omniscience and Your omnipresence. You have created every thing that exists, You are in complete control.

The wonder of it all is as grace to our neck, as a gentle refreshing breeze.

Solomon tells us that our love of You will keep us from failing, from falling prey to wickedness. We know that means that our relationship with You will keep us from the sort of fear that grips non-believers. We will fear evil and embrace goodness and You, Father, will help us through even the worst of circumstances here and You will deliver us to Your side, forever. Bless us we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, God's Gift, Heaven, Inspirtation, Providence of God, Religion, wisdom | 7 Comments »

A tandem truth…what we say and what we do, matter to God

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Industriousness, August 7

The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 10:16, Proverbs 26, 12:14, 24, Proverbs 21:25, 22:29, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon, in his wisdom, made many observations about the futility of life if one focuses on “life here is all there is”. We know You want us to work and to work well, all to Your glory.

You tell us that there is a tandem truth; the fruit of our mouth, what we say, and the fruit of our labor, what we do, will be rendered (delivered) to us. We know You are a just God but oh how we lean upon Your mercy. Our imperfections are ever before us.

Keep us from becoming self-satisfied with our efforts and help us remember that every asset we have, every thing that you made that we get to use in life, is a gift. Thank you and guide us in the use of Your gifts. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Hope, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance, Religion | 9 Comments »

Guilt leads to fear, wickedness to judgment.

Monday, July 30th, 2012

Courage, July 30

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Proverbs 28:1, Proverbs 4, Proverbs 29:25, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon teaches us something that is not always obvious. The wicked know they are being wicked and they are always looking over their shoulder, worrying about getting caught!

Those who love You prefer to seek You in righteousness and obedience and we know that when we do, we are comforted by You, not apprehended by the law.

The wicked applaud the wicked and in spite of the fact that each of them know they are sinning, they look away from Your impending judgment. Help us never develop a hardened heart, one that tries to dismiss You, God. We know, Father that even with the clear evidence that sin will be harshly judged, men and women ignore You and go on sinning.

Your word teaches us that eventually, on judgment day, they will drop to their knees and confess, they will be overtaken with fear and they will plead for Your mercy. We hear Solomon say “…whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe”. Help us trust You and to stop willfully sinning if any of us are doing so. Grant us Your mercy. Oh how we pray for Your mercy. We pray in Jesus’ Holy name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Christianity, Courage, Law of God, Perseverance | 6 Comments »

Is working hard part of what God expects of us?

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Industriousness, July 18

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding;
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down.
When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;
So shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man.

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds;
For riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
The lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field;
You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household, and the nourishment of your maidservants.

Proverbs 24:30-34, Proverbs 27:23-27, www.solascriptura.com

Father, Solomon observed and made logical deductions. Give us the wisdom to do the same. We know that endeavor, in Your name, is rewarded, but as clear as we are on that fact, we sometimes think that what we have personally accomplished will endure.

Help us not overly value the transitory. Help us see that our industriousness here is simply one more important part of Your plan for our lives.

We sometimes work hard here but our treasure is there, with You, forever. Strengthen our resolve to do the right thing, every day. In Christ’ name we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell

The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064

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Posted in Courage, Fidelity, God's Gift, Industriousness, Law of God, Perseverance, wisdom | 36 Comments »