Faithful on Fridays Blog

Last week we learned that living a life of victory is the purpose of the Book of Proverbs; the Hebrew word for proverb is the same as ruling and reigning: mashal. Jesus responded to His disciples’ questions regarding the parables (proverbs) by explaining that there are secrets to living in the Kingdom of God and they won’t work for unbelievers (Mark 4:11). Why? Unquestionably because there is no fear of the Lord.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10 ESV

Logically, if you want knowledge and wisdom you must first have a healthy view of God. This fear is not being afraid of God but being in awe of Him. It’s respecting His greatness, astonished by His acts, and honoring His Name. As Pv. 1:1 gives us the lower story of Solomon’s identity we understand the upper story of Jesus being the Son of David and King of Israel. That directs our attention to the New Testament when the people cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Or the religious leaders declared in mockery yet in truth, “He is the King of Israel; let Him come down now from the cross and we will believe in Him.” No fear of the Lord.

Proverbs teach us knowing God is the first step, the beginning, of ruling and reigning in life and being on the right side of the contrasts they give. Fools despise the submission we give God, hate the trust we have in Him, and His Spirit’s guidance every day. It’s weakness to them but to us it’s power: that’s one of Jesus’ secrets. Our principals of right and wrong, morality, and ethics all stem from knowing God and desiring to re-present Him to the world. Paul said,

“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.” Philippians 3:8a, 10a NLT

Experience the voice of God this week as the Spirit calls out, even shouts to you (1:20) while reading chapters 1-5. 

“If you turn at My reproof, behold, I will pour out My Spirit to you; I will make My words known to you.” Proverbs 1:23 ESV

Watch for these contrasts especially the conditional ones, ‘if … then’ in Chapter Two.  

Remember the lower story of wisdom points us to the upper story of Christ:

… you who are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God … 1 Cor. 1:29b

Also, the lower story ‘forbidden woman’ points us to the upper story of Satan and his ways, therefore, we are to GET WISDOM, GET INSIGHT (4:5, 7) and walk in the fear of the Lord experiencing mashal: ruling and reigning.

Eph.1:3-14 Blameless

“Don’t blame me!” How often have you said that to someone? We constantly want to deflect guilt away from ourselves especially when we’re innocent but sometimes when we’re not. Either way, we desire to be without blame.

As we continue through Eph. 1:3-14 we come to the phrase ‘holy and blameless’. Let’s discuss what it means to be blameless. The Greek word means to be without fault or guilt. You can probably see where Paul was going. He was reminding himself that God desires us to be found not guilty in any charges the devil may bring against us. And never forget, when you are down, Satan will not give you mercy, he’ll kick you with accusations.

Paul isn’t referring to our justification or righteousness in these verses. He’s sending out an encouragement to remind yourself of that spiritual blessing or benefit that allows us to be above God’s disapproval. It’s a gift of the Holy Spirit to be able to walk blamelessly, not sin-free but forgiven. It isn’t gained through our own willpower or strength but by His power and strength. When we try to do what’s right in our own power we fail, however, when we ask for His help, we succeed with unimaginable strength.

We can easily put ourselves in situations that tempt us, however, that’s not smart and it’s harder to walk blamelessly or innocent in His sight. It’s much smarter to stay away from temptation and the ways of the world that would draw us into sin. Sometimes we simply have to fight the good fight of faith in our minds and actions so that we don’t disappoint the One Who gave His life as a ransom for us. 

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:15 NLT

Sin brings shame, disgrace, and guilt but the Holy Spirit is in you and He will help you stay in opposition to it. You know in your heart what sin easily trips you up; stay away from it! 

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:17 ESV

Leading a morally blameless life takes strong desire, however, God hasn’t left us alone to try to walk in His ways; we have His Spirit. Interestingly, many of the verses that mention ‘blameless’ also mention The Day of the Lord; let’s remember that that’s He’s coming back to set up His eternal Kingdom and we’re part of it.

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24 NLT

To be perfectly honest Proverbs is one of my least favorite books of the Bible. I know it’s full of wisdom, pithy sayings, and an enormous amount of topics, consequently, that’s why it’s hard to read. Now, the first nine chapters are easy and I can sink my teeth into them, however, the rest of the book seems to bounce around like Mexican jumping beans! 

First of all, it’s not God’s fault: it’s mine. I haven’t understood King Solomon’s writing styles enough to recognize and appreciate them. Literary techniques, like poetry, are used to keep the reader’s attention and intensify their writings, therefore, Proverbs uses many of them to help us understand the deeper meaning.

Lessons from Proverbs will cover techniques like comparing and contrasting, parallelism, word-plays, discourse, parables, and personification because the Hebrew word for proverb includes all of those techniques. So, let’s dive into the Hebrew word we translate proverb: mashal

Mashal has a wide sweep of meaning that includes using words that represent or are like other words. For example, “What’s motorcycle riding like?” It’s like power at your fingertips, it’s like traveling as fast as the wind, get the picture? These metaphors use comparing and contrasting to convey meaning: what something is like. Mashal can also be a parable; Jesus loved telling lower stories in order to convey an upper story.

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” Luke 13:18-19 NLT

Mashal can also use parallelism, a fancy word for lines of similar ideas that help you understand and get the picture quicker and easier. 

The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death. Proverbs 12:28 NLT

The second meaning for this word-play on mashal is the idea of ruling and reigning. The Hebrew language loves double meanings and this one wins the prize for me. We find this word in Gen. 1:16-18 when God created two great lights: the greater light to rule the day and the lesser to rule the night. The concept of having dominion, mastering, or having ruling power is within this word. Again, in Gen. 4:7b God spoke to Cain, “… sin is crouching at the door. It’s desire is for you but you must rule over it.”

Lessons from Proverbs and especially Jesus’ parables both teach us how to live a victorious life in God’s upper story: His Kingdom now. They teach us, using a variety of methods, to stay interested and challenged but also how to rule in life, master it’s temptations, and take charge in the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s plan from the beginning, to make mankind in His own image, was for dominion or mashal over Satan and He uses proverbs to help us win the battles.

Eph. 1:3-14 Holiness

Have you ever read the qualifications for sainthood? Don’t get me wrong, I love that we honor what God has accomplished through believers of the past as our Catholic friends do, however, what are the Biblical qualifications for being a saint?

Let’s take a short trip into the Old Testament to find out where it all began. God declared Himself holy. That’s not simply existing without sin; it’s much more than that. Our God, in three persons, is kadosh, holy: distinct and totally different. He’s from another realm, another world, so to speak and no one can compare to His majestic authority and character. Yet this God, who made a love-covenant with mankind, commands us to be holy as well.

For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:44a NLT

Seriously? A command to be holy? Well, the logical question arises: just what is holiness? The truth is that when we were created in His image we were created holy. Yes, without sin, but again, more than that; we are to be different and distinct. Since the Fall we lost our sinless state but in Christ we are restored. We’re now seen by God as righteous and holy in our spirit and our goal is to live our lives as people who are distinct and different. That’s holiness. When we’re in Christ Jesus we are holy, we’re considered a saint or sanctified one. Sinless? No, not yet. Living our lives different from the world? Yes, we were chosen for that purpose, to be holy.

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. Ephesians 1:4 

As New Testament believers we’re called to live in another world. A new sphere of life that has new morals and values not looking like the world any longer; we think differently, talk differently, and act differently. Living in Christ Jesus means that we now re-present Him to the world again as His image bearers.

Jesus died for His Bride, 

… to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. Ephesians 5:26-27 NLT

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

The encouragement I bring you this week is to live holy and different since you re-present Christ to the world, and He is holy. You will never be sinless in this world but every day you can grow in your spiritual walk. Every day you can take another step in holiness and gain more ground. Every day you can have a prayer on your lips asking God to give you a pure heart toward others. You live in another world, you are a saint; let your behavior and speech reflect that truth.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalm 1:5-6 ESV

When you come to a ‘therefore’ while reading go back and see what it’s there … for. In this case I think the Psalmist is making a contrast between believers and unbelievers: the righteous and wicked sinners. As you go back to the first four verses of Psalm 1 you find all the advantages of being a believer and then here the ball drops and you find the consequences of not believing in Christ.

Judgment Day is coming, make no mistake, whether you believe it or not: Judgment Day will arrive. These verses teach us the two ways it can go for you: the righteous leading to eternal life or the wicked leading to eternal damnation. Those who have humbled themselves are forgiven of their sins, washed clean by Jesus, and have a standing position in the presence of God; that’s not true for those remaining in their sin. God calls them wicked or sinners because of their rebellion and they will not stand in His presence.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:5 NLT

Well, this is sure a Debby Downer message today, Jan. I know it … but it’s still true.

The Judge of the Universe says,

… none is righteous, not not one. Rom. 3:10

However, He follows it up with, 

The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. Rom. 3:22

It’s a simple black and white truth that all people, from all time, will come before the Judge (Ecc. 3:17); the question is whether you will humble yourself now or be forced into submission. Repentance or Rebellion? It’s a no-brainer.

Jesus declared a separation between the sheep on the right and the goats on the left in Matt. 25:31-34 and in the Parable of the Net (Matt. 13:46-50) He said angels will accomplish that task of separating evil or unredeemed people from the redeemed, righteous people.

… who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. Psalm 103:4 

Don’t be like the rich man of Luke 12:19-20 who told himself the lies of the world: eat, drink, and be merry: all is well. 

But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Luke 12:20 NLT

Be a blessed family of Psalm 1 who chooses the right way.

Eph. 1:3-14 Chosen

The word chosen, also translated elected, is a common reference in Scripture. It’s that wonderful, Judeo-Christian doctrine that reassures us that we were hand-picked to be children of God. However, we can never forget that alongside the privilege of being chosen are responsibilities that accompany it. We don’t seem to have trouble remembering the benefits of chosenness but sometimes forget there’s purpose behind His decision of election; chosen for a reason.

… even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, Ephesians 1:4a

Some people have trouble understanding this ancient teaching which goes all the way back to Adam and they focus on those who are not chosen. We don’t have all the answers to explain election simply because scripture give them. Instead of questioning this doctrine why not focus on your standing with God, your gratefulness that He chose you, and how you should respond to Him in appreciation. Why not spend your time studying what you do know from scripture rather than on what you can’t explain? 

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways! Romans 11:33 

How should you respond to a sovereign God who created the universe in His supreme authority, yet while He was working, was thinking about you? Did you know you’re on His mind? 

When I look at the night sky and see the work of Your fingers—

the moon and the stars You set in place—

what are mere mortals that You should think about them,

human beings that You should care for them?

Yet You made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority— Psalm 8:3-6 

As I mentioned earlier, there are responsibilities alongside the benefits of being chosen; we are called to live the higher life in Christ.

Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:12, 13 

Walking in forgiveness is one way to respond to God in your chosenness and copying those behaviors that pattern Jesus’ life. He is the ultimate forgiver and lived a life that was worthy of imitating.

Jesus was chosen by God for a purpose:

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6:38 

As we walk through Eph. 1:3-14 let’s focus our thinking those wonderful, rich words of promise. Chosen and forgiven. Let’s rejoice together that He was thinking about us when He created the world and there’s as much purpose to our lives as there was for Jesus’.

I love the way Jesus taught spiritual principles using metaphors: ‘The Kingdom of God is like …’ is a familiar opening to many of His parables. The Psalmist also used that literary device as he continued teaching on how to walk in God’s blessings. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Psalm 1:3-4 

The tree metaphor is a word-picture used to describe the family who walks the line by paying attention to influences in their lives: righteous or unrighteous. This family knows what to stand for and where to sit on the issues by using God’s Word to form their opinions and perspectives. When we’re successful God says we’re like fruit trees that grow strong and healthy yielding a good, seasonal crop.  

I know a little something about trees because I’ve grown some and killed some. Eventually my husband and I learned to grow healthy trees by watching their leaves. We found there are two culprits that constantly try to invade our trees: disease and pests. As long as we planted our trees in good soil, assured of plenty of sun, carefully watered it, slowly and deeply, and guarded against pests we knew our tree would grow healthy over time. 

When your family is like the trees of Psalm 1 we’re told the watering system is perfectly balanced since it’s planted by a fresh water supply. Question: What’s your family’s spiritual water supply?

Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this He said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:38-39 ESV

That’s the perfect water supply for the spiritual trees in your house: the Holy Spirit. He’ll make sure your leaves won’t wither due to dehydration, disease, or pests and your fruit will luxuriously grow. What kind of fruit? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control: Gal. 5: 22. If you’re not observing a good crop of spiritual fruit at your house maybe it’s time to do a fruit check. What influences your family, what do you stand for, whose perspectives do you align with: the world’s or Word’s?

The end result for this family is prosperity, not limited to finances but more importantly to a life that represents Jesus well. He taught us that people recognize a healthy tree by the good fruit (Matt. 7:16-20) and a diseased tree by bad fruit. Pretty simple.

The contrast of the unbeliever to the believer’s family should be obvious: more scrumptious, seasonal fruit. What season are you experiencing, young children, teenagers, empty nest, grandparenthood? The Holy Spirit helps in every season.

Eph. 1:3-14 Blessing

A few years ago I was asked to give the blessing at a wedding. I was delighted because speaking a blessing is declaring good things over people you care about. When Paul was writing to the believers in the city of Ephesus he began by declaring a blessing to God and his readers (Eph. 1:3). It seems to me that this powerful paragraph (vs. 3-14) is a result of Paul’s overwhelming revelation of God’s promises, blessings, or heritage given to His followers. He was undoubtedly writing or dictating so fast that the words came pouring out of him. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, Ephesians 1:3 

Every day we have a variety of life experiences here on earth: positive and negative. We need to remember, as Paul was reminding himself, that there are benefits to being a believer (Ps. 103:3) given to help us live out those experiences in victory. Those blessings are delivered from heaven by the Spirit of God at just the right time with everything you require to live a triumphant life. As citizens of heaven we have legal standing to draw from that inheritance but what does that really mean? It means that when we need justice or mercy in an earthly matter we can declare that blessing from the heavenly realm and bring it to the earth: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done … you finish it. This isn’t the prosperity gospel; this is the truth of God’s Word. The eternal blessings that reside in the sphere of heaven can be realized in the sphere of our temporary, earthly lives when we remain in Christ.

As a believer in Christ Jesus we have a position of authority on this earth. Paul talks about it in Eph. 6:12 when he tells us to be strong and stand in the Lord’s might against the spiritual forces of evil ‘in the heavenly places’. He uses that same phrase five times in Ephesians. It’s as if we travel back and forth experiencing that overlapping of heaven and earth. Again, remember that phrase that Jesus spoke as He taught His disciples to pray: thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven? This may seem deep to you but when you get it, you’ll stand a little taller and walk a little stronger knowing what rightfully belongs to you who are in Christ.

This week I encourage you to walk in a manner worthy of who you are and begin to take full advantage of what’s available to you. If you are bitter against someone, pull down forgiveness. If you are frustrated, pull down encouragement. If you need God’s mercy, it’s there for you, simply ask. Christ has provided all that you need to live in righteousness and holiness; take advantage of your inheritance, it’s a foretaste of heaven on earth.