Proverbs 14:15-16

One fine afternoon, my best friend and I came upon an abandoned boat floating in the river. The paddles were broken, but that wasn’t much deterrent for a pair of teenage boys. We shoved off and drifted down the river talking, joking, and carrying on. I’m not sure how much time passed as we floated aimlessly along, but we knew we were in trouble when a loud roar reached our ears. Up ahead, water was rushing over the dam. Panicked, we grabbed the broken paddles and pulled hard against the current. We managed to get close enough to the shore to safely jump out into shallow water, but the boat went over the edge. What started out as pure fun nearly ended in disaster.

That’s exactly what is happening to a lot of people today. What begins as fun and pleasure ends in shipwreck because people drift along, neglecting to think ahead or notice how fast they’re moving away from the safety of the Lord’s plan. According to the prevailing attitude of modern society, God’s not needed as long as the stream runs smoothly. In other words, when income is good, family is safe, and health is stable, going with the flow seems fine. But in reality, a drifting man is being swept along on dangerous anti-Christ and anti-church currents.

Today’s passage reveals that the wise look to the future to avoid ruin. Let me put it another way: Drifting is foolish. In countless arenas of life–marriage, family, vocation, finances, etc.–we need a clear destination and navigation plan if we expect to be successful. God provides both (Prov. 3:6).

 Obedience is not a popular word. It conjures thoughts of condescending authorities, power imbalances and struggles, the uncomfortable choice of compliance or correction. Disobedience carries thoughts of being punished, the risk of reprimand. Yet whether we see ourselves as generally obedient or disobedient, living courageously or cowardly, dutifully or defiantly, in all of life there is always risk. Christian author John Piper refers to “the enchantment of security” as a potent myth that pollutes our lives. He describes risk as a reality for all of us—whether living obediently or otherwise—because we don’t know how things will turn out. Risk is built into the framework of our finite lives. That is to say, our plans for the future always carry the risk of being shattered by a thousand unknowns. Our declarations of love always carry with it the risk of dismissal. And for the Christian, though risk might be associated with disobedience, vows to follow after God carry with them the risk of obedience. As Jesus once illustrated to an agrarian audience, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
 In the Old Testament book of Joshua, which recounts the battles Israel fought after crossing the Jordan, “possession” and “promise” are key words in this notion of risk. The people of Israel were commanded by God to go and take possession of the land God had promised them, to seize what had been given. But there is a distinction between the promise itself and the possessing of that promise. The land was not just given to them; they were called to fight and seize hold of what was promised. To take possession of the Promised Land required risk, and yet God imparts that it was indeed given to them. He declares through Joshua, “I gave [your enemies] into your hands…. You did not do it with your own sword and bow” (24:11b, 12b). 

 In pursuit of God’s promise, the Israelites had to proceed courageously; many grew weary and some may have given their lives. The risk was certainly real. But each obstacle that blocked the Israelites’ ability to possess what God promised was an illustration that God was among them. Though the risk was certain, over each trial they faced, God declared the promise of risk and the assurance of God’s presence. 

 Thankfully our relationship with God does not hold risks the same way that our relationships with others pose risks.  The risk is not with God; it is with you and me. When the covenant was made with Israel that they would be God’s people and God would be their God, it was not God’s ability to keep the covenant that worried anyone. Standing on the Promised Land in the excitement of victory and the confidence of possession, the Israelites declared that they would faithfully serve and follow God. Joshua responded flatly, “You are not able to serve the LORD” (24:19).  Our promises to God certainly carry the risk that they will be broken. But as the Israelites encountered combat and conflict, risking their lives in obedience to the LORD, they were repeatedly reminded that the greatest of all possessions is the promise of God Himself. God not only kept God’s vow but acted on their behalf knowing that they could not.

 There is a risk to following God, a risk to obedience. But as God declared to Joshua, it was declared again by his Son, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” The Christian is invited to seize God’s promises knowing that she won’t know the outcome of her days, but that God himself is more certain than anything else. In risk and in suffering, uncertainty and disappointment we are assured and instructed by the same words given to Joshua. As he weighed the risk involved in seizing God’s promise, Joshua was told: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” God asks us to boldly follow and then carries us through the risk.

 Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

 Morning “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” / 1 Thessalonians 1:4

 Many persons want to know their election before they look to Christ, but they

cannot learn it thus, it is only to be discovered by “looking unto Jesus.” If

you desire to ascertain your own election;–after the following manner, shall

you assure your heart before God. Do you feel yourself to be a lost, guilty

sinner? go straightway to the cross of Christ, and tell Jesus so, and tell him

that you have read in the Bible, “Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise

cast out.” Tell him that he has said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy

of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

Look to Jesus and believe on him, and you shall make proof of your election

directly, for so surely as thou believest, thou art elect. If you will give

yourself wholly up to Christ and trust him, then you are one of God’s chosen

ones; but if you stop and say, “I want to know first whether I am elect,” you

ask you know not what. Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are.

Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide

in his wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy

Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, “I know whom I

have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have

committed to him.” Christ was at the everlasting council: he can tell you

whether you were chosen or not; but you cannot find it out in any other way.

Go and put your trust in him, and his answer will be–“I have loved thee with

an everlasting love, therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” There

will be no doubt about his having chosen you, when you have chosen him.

 “Sons we are through God’s election,

 Who in Jesus Christ believe.”

 

Evening  “Let not one of them escape.” / 1 Kings 18:40

 When the prophet Elijah had received the answer to his prayer, and the fire

from heaven had consumed the sacrifice in the presence of all the people, he

called upon the assembled Israelites to take the priests of Baal, and sternly

cried, “Let not one of them escape.” He took them all down to the brook

Kishon, and slew them there. So must it be with our sins–they are all doomed,

not one must be preserved. Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much

crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at

sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you

condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart. Do you ask

how you are to accomplish this? Jesus will be your power. You have grace to

overcome sin given you in the covenant of grace; you have strength to win the

victory in the crusade against inward lusts, because Christ Jesus has promised

to be with you even unto the end. If you would triumph over darkness, set

yourself in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness. There is no place so

well adapted for the discovery of sin, and recovery from its power and guilt,

as the immediate presence of God. Job never knew how to get rid of sin half so

well as he did when his eye of faith rested upon God, and then he abhorred

himself, and repented in dust and ashes. The fine gold of the Christian is oft

becoming dim. We need the sacred fire to consume the dross. Let us fly to our

God, he is a consuming fire; he will not consume our spirit, but our sins. Let

the goodness of God excite us to a sacred jealousy, and to a holy revenge

against those iniquities which are hateful in his sight. Go forth to battle

with Amalek, in his strength, and utterly destroy the accursed crew: let not

one of them escape.

You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come. For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.  Psalms 102:13-14 

A selfish man in trouble is exceedingly hard to comfort, because the springs of his comfort are entirely within himself, and when he is sad all his springs are dry. But a large-hearted man full of Christian generosity has other springs from which to supply himself with comfort beside those that lie within. He can go to his God first of all and there find abundant help; and he can discover arguments for consolation in things relating to the world at large, to his country, and, above all, to the Church. David in this Psalm was exceedingly sorrowful; he wrote, “I am like an owl of the waste places; I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.”1 The only way in which he could comfort himself was in the reflection that God would arise and have mercy upon Zion. Though he was sad, yet Zion should prosper; however low his own estate, yet Zion would arise.

Christian man, learn to comfort yourself in God’s gracious dealing toward the Church. That which is so dear to your Master, should it not also be supremely precious to you? Although your path be dark, can you not cheer your heart with the triumphs of His cross and the spread of His truth? Our own personal troubles are forgotten while we look not only upon what God has done and is doing for Zion, but on the glorious things He will yet do for His Church.

Try this approach, O believer, whenever you are sad of heart and in heaviness of spirit: Forget yourself and your little concerns, and seek the welfare and prosperity of Zion. When you kneel in prayer to God, limit not your petition to the narrow circle of your own life, tried though it be, but send out your longing prayers for the church’s prosperity. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,”2 and your own soul shall be refreshed.

1Psalm 102:6-7 2 Psalm 122:6

Family Reading Plan Jeremiah 12 Matthew 26