Time with Jesus - Monday, 21 January 2013
Hi all,
Today’s style goes back over 60
years to a couple of the poems I wrote as a child. It works, but does not flow
easily. The verses turn out somewhat disjointed. Anyway, I’ve used that style
today for a bit of fun although the topic is vital. The seven sins of Proverbs
6 make for interesting reading. We wonder why it is that God hates them? A
little thought points us to the conclusion that these seven are at the root of
sin. That’s our meditation today.
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
|
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Monday, 21 January 2013
|
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
|||||
|
©
|
These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
|
©
|
|||||
|
INTRODUCTION
|
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
|
The Seven Sins
of Proverbs 6 |
|||||
|
One of our great difficulties in life is our understanding what sin is
and what it is not. The Bible teaches whatsoever does not spring from faith
is sin. This general rule is true of everything, natural, civil, or moral.
Anything that doesn’t conform to God’s Word is sinful, for as we are told in
Hebrews; 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God
exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Heb. 11:6 NLT
If God’s Word states it’s a sin, call it a sin. Don’t paint over it
with an exterior gloss suggesting that it is acceptable. That’s silly. It
reminds me of the story of a Restaurant built at the end of a pier into to
sea. Next to the restaurant there was a big notice saying, “No Parking Beyond
this Point”. The fact is there wasn’t! It may or may not be sinful to try and
park beyond that point. But it would surely dampen the enthusiasm!
We also like to draw up lists of sins. Then we categorise them in ascending
or descending order. You know what I mean. 1) murder; 2) rape; 3) adultery;
4) theft etc. When I was little I used to think that adultery only applied to
some undefined sin only committed by adults. Strangely enough, our list of
the most “serious” sins doesn’t include the commandments of God to Himself.
We forget, “no other God but Me!” “no images” “No taking His name in Vain”;
“keeping the Sabbath holy!” They may be the top of His list. Where are they
on ours? God’s command to honour parents seems to have been put on the back
burner. Our focus seems to be on commandment 6 to 9. The final one, “do not
covet” has become our way of life! How else can you keep up with the Jones?
Actually, the Lord Has another list of sins He hates. They are listed
in Proverbs 16 There are six things the LORD hates - no, seven things
He detests: Proverbs 6:16 NLT
Incidentally, the six/seven “things” are used in Hebrew writing style.
Essentially it means that God abhors all of them. Furthermore, if you give a
little thought to God’s commandments, you will find that all of them
originate with a thought or action in this list of seven. If we murder
someone, the commandment, “Though shalt do no murder” is broken. But if we
dig into the history of the event, we will find that it came about as a
result of violating one or more of the sins listed in Proverbs 6. People
murder each other for financial gain or to “clear” the way to legitimise an
adulterous relationship. Perhaps it’s as simple as wanting to sow discord in
the family? The reasons are as many as they are various. But what is at the
bottom of it? See Prov. 6:16-19
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland |
15 From now on we will
call the arrogant blessed. For those who do evil get rich, and those
who dare God to punish them suffer no harm.'"
Mal 3:15 NLT
15 The One who is highly
honoured lives forever. His name is holy. He says, "I live in a high
& holy place. But I also live with anyone who turns away from his sins. I
live with anyone who’s not proud. I give new life to him. I give it to anyone
who turns away from sins.
Isaiah 57:15 NIrV
19 Suppose you are lowly
in spirit and are with those who are beaten down. That's better than sharing
stolen goods with those who are proud.
Proverbs 16:19 NIrV
3 "Blessed are those
who recognize they are spiritually helpless. The kingdom of heaven belongs to
them.
Mat 5:3 GW
16 There are six things
the LORD hates--no, seven things He detests: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the
innocent,
Proverbs 6:16-17 NLT
5 Everyone with a
conceited heart is disgusting to the LORD. Certainly, such a person will not
go unpunished
Proverbs 16:5 GW
23 Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offend You, and lead me
along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
2 May God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
Philip 1:2-3 NLT
4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be
comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
Mat 5:4-5 NLT
|
There's never been a better time;
There's never been a bigger crime,
Than all the sin around today.
There is no bigger price to pay,
For there will always be a crop,
Of death unless the people stop,
From doing what they love to do,
And come unto the One who's true.
And, with a full repentant heart,
Turn from the sins that set apart,
The sinner from the God of Grace.
Unless you turn around your face
And end the things you've done before,
You will not enter heaven's door!
Don't be misguided or misled,
The Word of God has clearly said,
There is a price which man must pay,
For following a sinful way.
But, what is sin? Am I involved?
Through Jesus Christ, was that not solved?
It was indeed but this applies,
To those who've quit the devil's lies,
And changed the things they do each day;
It's only those who will obey,
The Lord and turn from evil deeds;
It's only those who stop and heed,
The warning from the Word of God,
Who will not suffer from His rod.
Turn to His Word and you will see,
The list He sees detestably.
The very first is haughty eyes.
The next is people telling lies.
Then there are those who, with intent,
Would
kill those who are innocent.
The
next is those whose hearts dream dreams,
Of
wicked and divisive schemes.
And
then there is the pair of feet
Who
run in evil and deceit.
|
A
False witness who pours out lies,
Is
also whom The Lord decries.
The
last one stated on the list,
Is
him who just will not desist,
From
stirring brothers in dissension.
That's
the list that's worth God's mention.
These
are what God's Spirit sees,
As
what should bring us to our knees.
These
seven are at the root of sin.
This
is where it does begin.
Murder
and adultery,
Stealing
and debauchery,
Commence
from what is written here.
That's
why The Lord says, "Don't go near.
Keep
away or you may fall.
Here's
where Satan comes to call.
And
here's where you avoid his tricks.
Just
make sure you never mix,
With
all the world's disgusting ways,
Throughout
all of your earthly days!
That
is the way of purity;
That
is the way to get to Me!
For
it is with the little things,
That
Satan clips your growing wings.
So
watch the things that would erode,
The
crop from harvesting what's sowed.
And
you will reap abundantly,
A
Righteousness that comes from Me
THE BIBLICAL LIST OF 7 SINS IN PROV. 6:16-19 (NLT)
1.
haughty
eyes
2.
a lying
tongue
3.
hands that
kill the innocent
4.
a heart
that plots evil
5.
feet that
race to do wrong
6.
a false
witness who pours out lies
7.
a person
who sows discord in a family
|
||||
|
Jim
Strickland – Written 21st January 2013
|
|||||||
