Hunting, for my family, has always been a means of providing food for our family, not a sport, but a part of living in rural Virginia on a farm. It taught patience, perseverance, and diligence. The lazy man described in this proverb is making a mockery of hunting. He is too lazy to cook what he killed. It is likely the case that he is also too lazy to process the animal as well. One of the most repulsive things as a hunter that I encounter is hearing of people shooting deer, taking the antlers, and wasting the meat. Such people should be ashamed of their practice.

Diligence is a quality of character that God is producing in His people. (Hebrews 6:10-11, 2 Corinthians 7:11) It is what is needed to be faithful with the resources God gives us. Slothfulness, or laziness, is something to be abhorred. (Proverbs 15:19) It is a sin to be avoided. Wastefulness is also a sin. (Proverbs 13:23) Today as you consider your walk with the Lord, be prepared to humble yourself before Him if you find any traces of these sins. Repent and ask His forgiveness on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:5-2:2) Put off laziness and put on diligence by His power. (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23)

(There is nothing like my wife’s fried venison!)

Every reader of this devotional has likely had experience with the matter dealt with in this verse. A person marked by lack of faithfulness and fulfillment of their word is someone you likely don’t want to be around or associate with. This is the person that says they will do something to help you and then care so little about fulfilling their word that they refuse to do it. How much worse when you are depending on that man or woman in a time of great need. It is compared to the unpleasantness of a rotten tooth that needs to be removed and a foot out of joint. The one whom this describes is a called elsewhere in Proverbs, a fool. They live life with no regard for eternal matters and they do not receive correction. (Proverbs 12:15, 14:16)

These make terrible employee’s, friends, siblings, etc. What is the answer? Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Only the Lord can replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19) Only He can change a person so radically that one day they are a self-centered, narcissistic fool and the next day they are truly loving and serving God’s people out of a love for Christ.

What about application for the believer? Does the Christian ever struggle with keeping their word? Yes, we do. What is the answer? Seek the Lord! Pray and ask for His help to not be hypocritical. (Matthew 7:7-11) Continue to go to His Word and as it reveals to you your sin, repent. (1 John 1:5-2:2) It is the same Holy Spirit that regenerated you who also gives you the power to live godly lives in this present age. (Titus 2:12, 3:5)

Marriage is so often viewed in our society as a curse, just as many view children as an inconvenience or even worse. Wickedness abounds and our duty as Christians is to oppose the this darkness with the light of God’s Word. (Ephesians 5) Christian marriage is one of the most blessed gifts God grants in this life. (Proverbs 18:22, 19:14) According to this verse, God would be giving a man far less if he gave him all the treasure in the world rather than a godly wife. Marriage is a picture of Christ and His bride. (Ephesians 5:22-33) It symbolizes the union between the Christian and the Lord Jesus Christ. The husband and wife become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24) Those who are Christians are addressed as being in Christ, meaning united to Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15-20, Ephesians 1:7)

Feminism has done it’s best to denigrate marriage, childbearing, and investing in the home, but here in Proverbs 31 the excellent wife is seen diligently attending to her home, clothing her family, feeding her family, and loving her husband. What are you going to believe? Do you suppose to argue with God? The woman’s calling is a high calling and it should be honored and recognized for the beautiful and meaningful calling it is. If you are a Christian woman and someone brings the common accusation that you are wasting your life and potential on being a homemaker, then look them in the eye and tell them that you are investing your life in the most important vocation! Then kindly show them the door.

"You are as much serving God in looking after your own children and training them up in God's fear, and minding the house, and making your household a church for God, as you would be if you had been called to lead an army to battle for the Lord of Hosts."

Charles Spurgeon

(Apologies in advanced, the Lord gave me the best wife…)

1Th 5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. (NKJV)

Elders, otherwise known as pastors, are not motivational speakers, community organizers, or any such worldly view. They are called and appointed by the Holy Spirit to watch over, protect, and feed the flock that God has given them. (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:1-4) They are under-shepherds, serving the Great Shepherd, Jesus the Messiah. (1 Peter 5:1-4, Hebrews 13:20-21) Their labor is the ministry of the Word and prayer. (Acts 6:4) They will one day give account for their work as under-shepherds to the Lord Jesus. (Hebrews 13:17)

They ought to be appreciated, encouraged, and blessed by the congregation they serve. Too often this is simply not the case. Jonathan Edwards was an immensely gifted pastor, preacher, and theologian, and yet he had endless grief and complaints from the congregation he served in Northampton, Massachusetts. There were complaints of lack of visitation, about the sermons, and just about everything else under the sun. He was faithful to keep the priority on God’s Word and its proclamation instead of being a people pleasing pastor. A faithful pastor will face many, many trials in this life for the sake of the Lord Jesus. It is your duty as a member of the congregation to love, encourage, and support a faithful pastor! If these things are absent, then contention is present, therefore, Paul orders them to cease from striving with one another.

I would like to take a moment to show appreciation for a dear friend and faithful pastor Phil Strong of Grace Reformed Fellowship in Lander, Wyoming. He has faced many trials and hardships due to evil men, and has not compromised. He is a godly and wise pastor who has remained steadfast despite many challenges. His sermons are a great blessing and encouragement if you are able to listen in online.

https://www.sermonaudio.com/broadcasters/wyopresbuteros/

1Th 5:22  Abstain from every form of evil. (NKJV)

A common experience for faithful believers in Christ is that of being denounced for applying Biblical standards and tests to any given situation, teacher, or teaching. Push back is inevitable when we begin to apply the Bible to every part of life. With false teachers and teaching this seems obvious. The false teacher will also reject application of Biblical standards to them. One example of this is Benny Hinn— he said in a so-called sermon, that he wished he had a “Holy Ghost machine gun” to dispatch his critics with. Those critics were only pointing out that he was not meeting the Biblical standard for a true teacher or true prophet. However, there are some subtle ways this happens that we should be aware of.

Let’s say that the Lord is leading you to make a move to follow His calling, maybe as a missionary, and people in the church say “don’t go, don’t you know there are so many people to evangelize here at home?” This has been the experience of many faithful and truly called missionaries. Instead, it should be asked, is this the will of the Lord? Is there internal and external evidence that this calling is from Him? The Lord has different callings for His people just as He has different gifts, however, we must be careful not to seek to discourage someone from obedience to the Lord and His will for our selfish desire to keep them near by. Do not hinder them in their obedience to Christ! (Luke 9:49-50)

The next part is just as vital. Cling to what is good. We don’t just eschew evil. We also cling tenaciously to the Lord and His Word. We actively put into practice His will. (James 1:22) In Ezekiel’s ministry as a prophet, the people of Israel were hardened. (Ezekiel 3:7) They would not repent of their idolatry and cling the Lord their God. Likewise God gave Ezekiel something of a holy hardness. (Ezekiel 3:8-9) Likewise we must cling to the Word of God regardless of consequence. Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern for truly prophesying. (Jeremiah 38:1-13) He was holding fast to that which was good and he suffered for it.

Verse 22 is saying to avoid evil in every form it takes. Many misunderstand this verse because they misread the King James Version of this verse. It says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” Modern readers read that as a command to abstain from doing anything that could appear to be wrong. They are wrongly handling the verse. The verse very clearly means to abstain from every way that evil appears. The old English means that, but because we aren’t familiar with it we get tripped up by the rendering of the verse. Let me give an illustration of the meaning of this verse. Take a single sin, the sin of lust, and then consider how many forms that it can appear in. It can be seen in lust in the mind, lust in looking at a person, lust in viewing pornography, lust in committing fornication, lust in committing adultery, and more. We are clearly to abstain from all of these manifestations of the sin of lust. So it is with every other sin.

Subject every teaching and teacher to the Word of God. Ask questions like, “where do we see this in the Bible?”, “is this contrary to God’s Word?”, or “is this something brand new that the body of Christ has never been taught in 2000 years of church history?” If anyone ever criticizes you for doing so, then promptly distance yourself from that teacher, pastor, or preacher.

Proverbs 30:8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me;

Proverbs 30:9 Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God. (NKJV)

Here we see the writer petition the Lord for two things. The first is to keep him from deceit in any form. The second is to likewise keep him from both poverty and riches, and to rather supply his needs without lack or excess. In essence, this is a prayer to keep the writer from three sinful things, deception, pride, and stealing, as well as a prayer for his daily bread. (Matthew 6:11) As Christians, it is our primary aim or goal to be well pleasing to our Master in all things. (2 Corinthians 5:9) The Westminster Shorter Catechism question and answer really puts it well. It asks, “what is the chief end of man”? It then answers, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him forever. (Ps. 73:25–28)^[1]

Undergirding these verses is a desire to be faithful to the Lord. We must remember that we are not here to live for ourselves, but for the Lord and His people. Eternal things are to be what we ultimately set our affections upon, rather than temporal things. (Colossians 3:1-4) Therefore, in all we do on this earth, we seek to bring God glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23-24) In this pursuit, we can truly trust and rest in Him, enjoying sweet fellowship and communion with the Lord of glory through His Word and prayer. (1 John 1:3-4, Matthew 11:28-30) He who made us knows our needs before we ask, and He is far wiser than we are. (Matthew 6:8) He withholds no good thing from His people. (Psalm 34:10) He is worthy of all of our trust! (Psalm 34:8, Proverbs 3:5-6)

^[1] The Westminster Shorter Catechism: With Scripture Proofs, 3rd edition. (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996).

Proverbs 30:6  Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (NKJV)

God’s Word is frequently attacked from many in this world. They say it is corrupted and that it is the work of mere men, not men who were moved by the Holy Spirit of God to speak and to write. (2 Peter 1:21) These are scoffers who deny the accuracy of the Word of God and deny the Lordship of Christ over their lives. (2 Peter 3:3-13) The Bible’s own testimony of itself is that it is accurate, authoritative, inerrant, infallible, and thoroughly sufficient. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, John 10:35) God’s written Word is literally viewed as God speaking to us from heaven. (Hebrews 3:7-11, 12:25-39) In trusting the Lord, we believe and obey the Word of God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) He is our protector, and no one who believes the Word of God and testimony about Jesus Christ will be disappointed. (Psalm 34:22, John 3:16)

Another attack on the Bible has been to seek to add to or subtract from the Word of God. (Revelation 22:18-19) The Jefferson Bible of old took away the miraculous and even the bodily resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Liberal theologians have sought to add apocryphal works such as the Gospel of Thomas to the canon. Many practically put words in Gods mouth, claiming to have extra-biblical divine revelation. (Deuteronomy 18:2) These are all liars. God has spoken in His Son and given us His written Word. (Hebrews 1:1-3) That Word is fully and thoroughly sufficient to equip us to live a life pleasing to God. (2 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Timothy 3:15-17)

(This is a picture of a property I’ve hunted in Ohio. Some of my greatest delights in whitetail deer hunting are the quiet, the time to read the Bible, and to pray communing with the Lord.)

What is revelation? God reveals truths about Himself and His will to people. General revelation is found in nature and it teaches us about God but it is not sufficient for salvation. (Psalm 19:1-6) Then there is special revelation. This is found in God’s Word and it is sufficient for salvation. (Psalm 19:7-14) This is the type of revelation the proverb is speaking of. God’s Word here is called the Law. In the Hebrew the word itself is Torah, a term you may recognize.

This Proverb begins with a recognition of the fact, that if God’s Word is not present and at the forefront of a people’s lives, hearts, and minds, then they will revert to lawlessness. (Judges 17:6, 21:25) Where God’s Word is, the people who obey it are blessed. (Revelation 1:6, John 13:17, Matthew 5:2-12) They are not lawless, but are treasuring up the Word of God in their hearts. (Psalm 119:11, 31-36, Colossians 3:16) It becomes a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. (Psalm 119:105) It equips us as Christians to know and do the will of God. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, Romans 12:1-2) After all, what does Jesus tell the unbeliever on the last day? He will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23b) Who is it that will be saved then? (Matthew 19:25) It is the one who believes His Master’s Word, and obeys! (Matthew 7:24-27) What is required? It is required that we do the will of the Father. (Matthew 7:22) What is the will of the Father? Believe on the Son, Jesus Christ! (John 6:40, 20:30-31) The one who believes upon the Lord Jesus will also be used to do works that God has prepared beforehand for them to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10, John 15:16) Repentance will not rob you of a good life, it will bring life and blessing beyond measure in Christ. (2 Corinthians 7:10, Acts 11:18)

The knowledge that the Lord is good seems so widespread, and yet, so shallow. We often give lip service to the fact that God is good, that is, until we face the slightest affliction and then we question God’s goodness. However, the fact remains that the Lord is good, and nothing about our circumstances or earthly experience can change that. The Lord is the same always, so He does not change. (Hebrews 13:8, Malachi 3:6) He was perfectly faithful yesterday, He is perfectly faithful today, and He will be perfectly faithful tomorrow. (Hebrews 13:8, Deuteronomy 7:9)

The difficulty comes when we look at our trials and try to subconsciously judge God’s goodness based on those circumstance's. Living by faith and not by sight requires us to change that thought process and to see all that we go through as a part of God’s purpose and plan, yes, even the most difficult of trials and hardships. (James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 4:12-14) We must understand that those trials result in molding us and shaping us so that more of the dross is burned off and we are being more and more sanctified. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Do you realize that you are both abundantly blessed now and blessed with an eternal hope that will not fail if you know the Lord Jesus? (1 Peter 1:3-5, Matthew 19:21-22) You may say, “I don’t feel very blessed.” Nevertheless, despite the trials, we know that the Lord has blessed us beyond measure, even in this present time. (Ephesians 1:3-14) Your prayers are heard by the Father whilst those apart from Christ are not heard. (Psalm 34:15-17) Mercy and goodness follow you all the days of your life, and yet, the wicked are pursued by evil their entire life. (Psalm 23:6, Psalm 34:21-22) The Lord is watching over the righteous to care for them, and yet, the Lord has reserved blackness of darkness forever for the wicked. (Psalm 34:15, 2 Peter 2:17) Truly, the man or woman that trusts in the Lord is blessed!

(Below is a Birch tree, one of my favorite trees. It’s appearance is a blessing, it’s sap is sweet and contains multiple different sugars and is a blessing, and if you break off a twig and chew it you will see why it is used for flavoring things with a wintergreen sort of flavor. God has made this tree for beauty, food, and shade. What a blessing from our Heavenly Father, and yet, none of this even comes close to the blessings we have in Christ if we have repented and trusted Him.)

Exo 20:3  "You shall have no other gods before Me. (NKJV)

The Lord delivered Israel from Egypt with wondrous displays of power. (Exodus 15:1-21, 11:9) His redemption of His people was marvelous and unprecedented. (Deuteronomy 4:34) Yet, His people soon forgot their deliverance that the Lord provided. (Psalm 106:5, 21) Remarkably, the opening to the Ten Commandments calls to mind the fact that God delivered them. Why is this significant? The answer is simple. The foundation of God’s moral law is the deliverance of His people. No other god could deliver Egypt from Yahweh’s might. (Nahum 1:12-14, Isaiah 46:1-2) Not one of Egypt’s false gods could lift a finger against the Almighty, because they are and they were no better than dumb idols backed by demonic deception. (Psalm 106:32-38, Deuteronomy 32:16-17) The true and the living God called a people out for His Name’s sake, and He did so striking fear into the hearts of the gentile nations. (Joshua 2:9-11) The Lord did all of this for the purpose that Israel would know that He alone is God, and that He alone can deliver. (Deuteronomy 4:32-40)

Would it surprise you to know that idolatry does still happen through the worship of literal idols? This passage can easily be applied to the worship of wood, stone, clay, and metal idols. However, the heart of the first commandment goes beyond literal idol making and worshipping. Anything we place a greater affection upon and allegiance to than God is an idol. Idols could be fame, coveting wealth, sexual immorality, and such things we think of as being sinful. (Romans 1:18-32, Colossians 3:5) However, children, parents, spouses, friends, and more could be idols as well. (Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:26) Ask yourself this, if the Lord took them away tomorrow would I still serve Him? Hopefully, this will give you a helpful diagnostic tool to analyze where you may find some items for prayer and repentance.

It is vital that you consider something. No matter how much you seek to purify idolatry from your heart, without the mighty deliverance of Jesus the Messiah, you will fail. Even if you were to take 10 idols down in your own power, you would only replace them with an even greater idol, a proud heart. (Proverbs 16:5) However, if you come to Christ, in faith, as one who is devoid of power to deliver themselves, then you find a merciful Lord and Savior. (Luke 18:9-14) He is willing to make you clean if you come to Him for forgiveness. (Mark 1:40-42, John 6:35-40, 44) The foundation of obedience for God’s people is the salvation that He alone provides. (Titus 2:11-14)

Retaliation is the modus operandi for the world. They cut me off in traffic, therefore, I must tail them. They stole from me so I need to take out vengeance on them. They spoke evil of me so I need to speak evil of them. Sound familiar? This is just how the world works. Yet, we are not of the world. (John 15:19) Those who belong to the Lord are not to respond in the same way as the world to those that wrong us. (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

Paul in Romans 12:17-21 directly contradicts the present worldview of personal retaliation. He begins by stating, “repay no one evil for evil.” (Verse 17) He then goes on to direct us to patiently wait on the Lord Jesus who will take vengeance on those who do deal treacherously towards us, except if they repent. (Verse 19) By being generous and hospitable to our enemies, we are to do them good and that will bring about shame to the evildoer. (Verse 20) In summary, we are to “…not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Verse 21) This is truly an otherworldly response.

Pray for those that hate you and show kindness and hospitality to those who oppose you. (Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:20) Be merciful to them, though they are undeserving. (Matthew 5:7) Remember, that you too were and are undeserving of the kindness and mercy that God has shown you in Christ. (Titus 3:4-7)

Fear, rightly placed, is a good thing. The fear of the Lord is indeed a life giving fear. How often do we hear the Fear of God immediately dismissed as some antiquated notion or belief? How often do we hear the Fear of the Lord misrepresented so that it is said to only be a reverence for God and nothing more? While the fear of God includes reverence and awe, it is more than that. Fear of God brings about repentance. The fear of the Lord steers us away from evil. (Proverbs 8:13, Job 28:28) Psalm 34:14 makes this obvious, commanding, “Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.” (NKJV) This verse follows Psalm 34:11, which states, “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” (NKJV) Verse 14 is a clear outworking of verse 11. Part of David’s teaching us the fear of the Lord is exhorting us to depart from sin and put on righteousness.

The wonderful thing about the fear of the Lord is that if we fear Him, we need never to fear anyone or anything else. (Matthew 10:26-33, Luke 12:4-12) We serve the Lord knowing that He is sovereign over our lives and that not a single hair of our head will be lost apart from His plan and purpose. (Luke 12:7) We will remain until His time to take us home to be in His presence forever. (Psalm 34:7, Psalm 31:15)

He even delivers the one who trusts in Jesus from the fear of death itself. (Hebrews 2:14-15) We can live a life here on earth that truly has “no guilt in life, no fear in death…” as the wonderful hymn “In Christ Alone” says. Not only this, but we can have no fear in life and no fear in death. Praise the Lord for His mercy!

Finally, one other important aspect of the fear of the Lord is loving Him and expectantly looking to Him in faith. (Psalm 103:8-19, 115:11) Those who do not fear the Lord are also those who do not love the Lord. (1 Corinthians 16:22) Those who love Him, seek to obey Him. (John 14:15, 15:10) Those who do not love Him are indifferent toward His commands. (Psalm 119:113-120) Contrast this with the declaration of Psalmist in Psalm 116:1, “I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.” (NKJV)

(On a note of thanksgiving to the Lord, pictured below is a wild Paw-Paw tree. It bears one of my favorite fruits. The one who made it, did so to sustain men, and the animals that eat the fruit. He has supplied all things needed for life. How can we not fear Him who so wonderfully made us and that which sustains us?)

Ecc 4:10  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. (NKJV)

Solomon, viewing life under the sun, observes than it is better to have a companion than to work alone. This principle could be applied to friendship, marriage, or even employment. The following two verses continue the same theme and they are contrasted with the previous two verses. Verse 8 ends by pointing out that the one working alone never stops to ask himself, “…for whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" (Ecclesiastes 4:8b NKJV) Even in the garden before sin entered into the picture, God said, “…It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." (Genesis 2:18b NKJV) In a newly created world where God called everything good, He said that it is not good for man to be alone, and thus God made Eve for Adam to have a wife. (Genesis 1-2)

Let’s take a moment to contrast the Bible’s teaching on this matter with some popular beliefs of our society. Many times it has been suggested to me that rugged individualism is a good thing. A life lived where we need nothing from anyone and where generally speaking we are not willing to accept help when it is offered. It may surprise you to know that this is unbiblical. Human beings were created to be in relationship with one another. The body of Christ is made up of many members and the members need one another. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31) We are built for life in community with others, not life lived in isolation. (Romans 14:7) Pride is sinful and abhorrent to God. (Proverbs 8:13, 16:18) Pride can often cause us not to ask for or receive help from others when it is clearly God’s will for us to seek that help. Exodus 18 is a good example of Moses humility in honoring his father in law and seeking assistance in governing the children of Israel.

Why do we celebrate prideful living? Why don’t we recognize that we are truly dependent on the Lord for everything down to the very next breath that sustains our life. (Acts 17:25) Do not be too proud to ask for or receive help in times of need. Prayer for our needs reveals our utter dependence on the Lord. Honesty with one another concerning our needs allows opportunity for us to “let brotherly love continue.” (Hebrews 13:1 NKJV)

Heeding council and receiving instruction are not given sufficient weight in our day. The very idea of being instructed or corrected is scoffed at. A very dumb song from a few years ago called “old town road” includes the lyrics, “Can’t nobody tell me nothing, you can’t tell me nothing.”

Proverbs 12:1 declares, “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.” (NKJV) the prevailing attitude of our nation is one of spurning correction or instruction. It is a culture full of men and women who think it a virtue to eschew anything that resembles a rebuke. However, they do it to their own destruction. (Proverbs 15:10)

As those who have faith in Christ and are seeking to obey His commands, we are required to humble ourselves before the Lord and under the oversight of godly elders. (James 4:10, Hebrews 13:17) We are also to maintain a humble attitude towards other believers, willing to receive instruction or correction if it is Scripturally sound. (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5-7) The godly man or woman is teachable. If you cannot be corrected or taught then you are not godly! (Proverbs 17:10, 9:8)

Finally, the last phrase instructs us to receive instruction so that we would be wise as we grow older. There is a connection between age and wisdom. We even see this demonstrated in an earthly sense of wisdom. An unbelieving father or mother may actually give good council to their son or daughter after having lived through hardship due to their own sinful behavior. They may counsel their child to not make the same mistakes that they did. How much more is this true of the believer, who knows the Lord and has seen the Lord work in their life over many years?

What good is false testimony? A false witness, or witnesses, may result in the death of an innocent person. (1 Kings 21:1-16) By way of contrast, a true witness delivers the innocent. Exodus 20:16 clearly states, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (NKJV) God takes this matter very seriously, commanding that the punishment for the false witness be the very punishment they are seeking for the innocent party. (Deuteronomy 19:16-21) Not only is the false witness guilty of something that God says He both hates and that it is abomination, but He also promises that righteous retribution will fall upon them who commit this sin. (Proverbs 6:16-19, 19:5)

Most egregious of all, are those false witnesses who preach a false gospel, steering men and women away from the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 23:13-15) Their judgement is not idle! (2 Peter 2:3)

So then, how do we as believers seek to obey the will of the Lord in this passage? Ephesians 4:25 puts it beautifully, stating, “Therefore, putting away lying, "LET EACH ONE OF YOU SPEAK TRUTH WITH HIS NEIGHBOR," for we are members of one another.” (NKJV) In other words, put off the old man who bore false witness and put on the new man who delights in doing that which pleases the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Grow by His grace, through His Word and the power of His Spirit in speaking the truth to one another. (2 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 5:11-14, Galatians 5:16-17)

2Jn 1:11  for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (NKJV)

False teachers should not be viewed as well intentioned but misled individuals. False teachers in the strict Biblical sense are truly unregenerate enemies of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15, 2 Peter 2) Speaking of false teachers, this passage also teaches us that if they do not remain in the true teaching of and about Christ, who He is and what He has done, then they are deceivers and antichrists. (2 John 1:7-9) It is so serious a matter that the Lord forbids the Christian providing the least bit of support for these false teachers. Welcoming a false teacher into one’s home would have been seen as supporting their false ministry. Therefore, any form of approval is seen as partaking in their sins.

Application is not difficult to make from this passage. Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known to go door to door passing out literature to people. Their message is a false gospel of works righteousness. Due to this, we as believers are not even to give them what would have been a customary greeting. (2 John 1:11) Furthermore, the same would go for any cult or false religion. We are not to give any kind of tacit approval of or support to these false teachers. They are to be marked and avoided. (Romans 16:17-18) Does this mean you never seek to witness to someone in these false religions or cults? No, it does not. Witness to your Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox aquintences, but do not treat them like a brother or sister in the Lord. If they don’t have the Gospel then they do not have Christ. Tell them about Christ, but do not give a single hint of approval of their falsehood. Certainly, do not be best friends with a priest. Make no mistake both Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy are false religions. Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witness, Christian Science, Islam, Seventh Day Adventism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many more, are all false religions and they do not have the Gospel. Do not be partakers with them in their demonic doctrines. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17, 1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Gentleness is a fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in those who know the Lord. As it is written, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV) In other words, God, who is at work in the Christian, produces gentleness. However, why are we admonished to display gentleness if it is something God produces in us? This same paradox can be seen in Philippians 2:12-13, which states, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (NKJV) The believer is commanded to labor and then told it is God who is working in and through them. We do labor in the Christian life, but we are not the ultimate source of the good fruit we bear. (John 15:1-17) We are simply a branch in the grapevine, we didn’t make the fruit, God is the ultimate source of the fruit that we bare. (John 15:1-17, Ephesians 2:10) So it is with gentleness. We labor to show gentleness toward all those we interact with, hence, “all men.” Yet, it is God who through His Holy Spirit produces that gentleness.

Notice that there is a motivation given in this verse. What is it? “…The Lord is at hand.” This could mean that He is near proximity wise, in that He is watching and will render to every man according to His deeds or it could mean that He is soon to return in His glorious second coming, at which time He will judge the living and the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 16:27, Revelation 22:12, 2 Timothy 4:1) Either way, we are instructed to live in the fear of the Lord in our dealings with others. (Proverbs 14:27, Proverbs 23:17) We are to treat others in a manner that displays the reality of our profession of faith and that mirrors or mimics the character of God Himself. (Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:31-5:2) When you are faced with a situation where you fear you will not be able to respond with gentleness, remember the fear of the Lord and remember to beseech your heavenly Father for grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) If you fail to display gentleness, then ask forgiveness of those you were unnecessarily harsh with and confess your sin to your Father in heaven, then move forward endeavoring to grow by His grace in gentleness. (James 5:16, Matthew 6:12, 1 John 1:9-2:2)

(Pictured below is me last summer hugging a horse. The horse was certainly much more powerful than me and yet it was meek enough to allow me to hug it. While it possessed the power to injure me, it was gentle in disposition towards me and my family.)

Rejoicing continually and praying continually precede this command to give thanks in all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) Prayer and thanksgiving are often connected in the Scriptures. (Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 4:2) Psalm 100 implies prayer through the command to give thanks. We are to enter into His presence with thanksgiving, then the element of praise is brought in. (Psalm 100:4) Praise and thanksgiving also go together. (Hebrews 13:15, Psalm 100:4) Additionally, in the same way that rejoicing is not dependent on circumstances, so we are to offer thanksgiving no matter our lot. No matter how hard our situation may be, this command stands.

A story from the life of Corrie Ten Boom really illustrates the nature of this kind of thanksgiving irregardless of circumstances. An article is linked below retelling it.

https://colsoncenter.org/breakpoint/corrie-ten-booms-life-of-faithfulness

(I do not endorse Chuck Colson or breakpoint, this is simply an article retelling the account. Chuck Colson had some major problems such as his part in Evangelicals and Catholics together, which I reject as a deviation from the Gospel.)

(Thank the Lord for coffee!)

How often do we rush into the day without prayer for strength and help for the day ahead? How often do we forget to pray during the course of the day? The likely answer for most of us is often. However, the Lord desires the continual dependence of His people on Him for all things. (John 15:5, Mathew 6:5-15) A lack of prayer can reveal a lack of dependence upon God. A life full of prayer in all circumstances and for all things shows an utter dependence on Him. Persistent prayer especially exhibits faith. (Luke 18:1-8) This prayer is to be accompanied by thanksgiving, as the next verse commands. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:6-7) It should also be remembered that prayer that is according to the will of God will certainly be answered. (1 John 5:14-15)

One caveat…prayer will not benefit those who do not know the Lord Jesus by faith. Reconciliation with God the Father only comes through the substitutionary atonement of the Son. (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) In other words, by the merits of Jesus death and resurrection in the sinners place forgiveness and adoption into God’s household takes place. (Colossians 1:20-23, Acts 20:28) We are forgiven at the price of His blood as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8, Revelation 5:6, 12)

(Pictured below is from my time hunting in Virginia, where I grew up. Prayer while hunting, as well as time in my pocket sized Bible, is one of my favorite things about time spent pursuing whitetail deer.)

Rejoicing in the Christian life is not optional, nor is it dependent on circumstances. (Philippians 4:4) It is to be ongoing throughout each day. One may see this verse and critically think, what folly. How is a person to rejoice in hardship or loss? The answer is Jesus and Him crucified. (Romans 5:8-11, 1 Corinthians 2:2) If we have been redeemed through the death and ressurection of Jesus on our behalf, that alone is sufficient to rejoice in every moment from now until eternity. (1 Peter 1:3-9) Hell was our destination apart from the grace of the Lord, now heaven awaits us, and that not because we deserve it, but rather, because we do not deserve it. (Mark 2:17, Luke 5:32) What greater thing can we rejoice in than that?

However, we have even more blessings from the Lord that we can and ought to rejoice in. He sustains us daily. (Luke 12:22-34) We have His Spirit in dwelling us if we know Him. (Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6) Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. (Hebrews 7:25) The Lord is working all the details of life together for your good, even the difficult things. (Romans 8:28) He has given us a family in Christ, as we are called members one of another. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 20) We are made new and have new and godly desires. (2 Corinthians 5:17) He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3-14) The list is nearly endless for reasons the rejoice in the Lord. Take some time to reflect on His goodness and to offer up thanks to Him today.

Count your many blessings, name them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done!

“Count your many blessings”

Hymn written by Johnson Oatman Jr