False Christian teachings, trends….
This post contains comments from 7 different Bible commentaries on Proverbs 9:17 (see title). It also contains a link to Proverbs 9:17 at Bible Hub. If you do not have a Bible commentary, bookmark Bible Hub; it is free and has many commentaries and versions of the Bible.
The following 2-minute excerpt is the conclusion of an 18-minute J R Miller devotional about one’s lot in life: what that is; that God gives it; how to view it; how to thrive in it…. The 18-minute version is also in this post for those who would hear more. Also, there is a link to Christian Sermons and Audio Books J R Miller playlist.
Spurgeon’s morning thoughts were on, “My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” — Psa_22:14; and his evening thoughts, on: “The king’s garden.” — Neh_3:15. And it goes without saying that the writing is full of meaningful, poetic metaphors; the pictures of which increase insight. [I discovered his thoughts when I went to E-sword Bible software to get some scripture for tomorrows post, and was happy to see that today’s thoughts prepare the way to hear tomorrow’s post, even though each stand alone.]
This brief devotional will give you some clarity about what God would have you doing with your life. To be more specific, and to summarize Miller’s words: God has placed you in a specific place, amid a specific group of people, with specific needs…; He has given you talents, interests, abilities… that He expects you to use to SERVE those around you…. J R Miller states that message in a pleasing and kind manner. His words will help you to see and act on those little specific things all around you. [After publishing this post I discovered shorts by MacArthur and Baucham that apply to the matter discussed by Miller, these were added under the Miller video]
Spurgeon’s devotional, Morning and Evening, is very relevant to my last 3 posts and to the one I am working on for tomorrow, so I am posting it now. His perspective is biblical, but different from the others; therein you might also see the timeless relevance of God’s truth, as Spurgeon died over a century ago: his words are a call to Christians right now, today. I certainly needed to hear them, I hope you benefit from reading them also.
This post contains one verse of scripture, Proverbs 1:7 and the comments of 6 Bible commentators: John MacArthur; John Gill; F B Meyer; Albert Barnes; Joseph Benson and Matthew Henry. This is a foundational verse in the Bible, so it is worth the effort required to know what it means.
…There was a very clear and cogent lesson from an otherwise confusing chapter: the end will come. Have you ever wondered why the Bible speaks of the last days so often? By one count, nearly 150 chapters in the Bible deal with the end times in some fashion or another. …First, knowing that an end is coming enforces the proper priorities. …Second, knowing that an end is coming encourages a personal piety. …Third, knowing that an end is coming engenders a profound peace.
Newton’s words indicate that affliction is a necessary Christian experience; the following points are from the video: The school of the cross teaches one to extract real good out of seeming evil; The flesh is a dunce in this school; Grace makes the spirit willing to learn by suffering so that one’s flesh may be mortified; Such is necessary for conformity to Christ…
This post contains today’s morning thought from C H Spurgeon’s devotional, Morning and Evening. It is about the role of affliction in the believer’s life. Our lot includes suffering and undergoing various trials that we might be conformed to the image of Christ. No true believer will be excluded. While I was undergoing cancer treatment, my brother gave me a book, The Afflicted Man’s Companion, wherein I learned things that helped comfort me. One point that seemed hard, was that God expects us to feel the pain when we are undergoing afflictions, trials…. It is natural to want to escape it, hence, dependence on Him is necessary. Knowing the aforementioned enabled me to see many such things during my next read of the Bible
In Proverbs 5:5 and 6, Solomon talked about how the harlot leads one from the path of life – she has no concern for it, and will lead you from it by her wiles; and in Proverbs 7, he made a statement that she will lead a man down the path to death like an ox is led to the slaughter – he doesn’t know he is going to his death…. Some excerpts from commentaries are used to give significance and clarification to these verses and a couple from Hosea