Thought for April 27, 2024

•  1749: First performance of Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks"
• 1773: Parliament passes the Tea Act--Boston does not agree
• 1805: Marines attack the shores of Tripoli
• 1810: Beethoven composes "Fur Elise"
• 1865: Cornell University chartered
• 1937: First Social Security payment
• 1982: Trial of John Hinckley for shooting President Reagan begins
• 2020: Confirmed Covid cases pass 3 million
• Born: Samuel Morse, U.S. Grant, Rogers Hornsby, Walter Lantz [Woody Woodpecker], Jack Klugman, Coretta Scott King, Judy Carne, 
• Died: Ferdinand Magellan, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edward R Murrow, Al Hirt, Ruth Handler [Barbie]

Thought:

Reading Proverbs 3:1-8 this morning where we find one of the well-known verses. Yesterday, in chapter 2 we read about seeking to know God as a hidden treasure. Today, notice how chapter 3 begins--don't forget the teaching that you found when you earnestly sought God in His commandments and don't just remember it, keep it. Don't be a hearer, but rather a doer of the word. [3:1] Take a look as these instructions for living:

• Don't forget what you learned [3:1]. The Spirit reminds us of all that Jesus said and did. Don't forget. Satan will try and make you forget, distort the truth of what you remember. Let the Spirit remind you. How many times did our parents tell us something like this when we left the house--don't forget what I taught you. Our Heavenly Father feels the same way.
• When you remember what you were taught, do it. [3:1] Remembering is only the first step--doing is the next step.
• Don't allow kindness and truth to leave you. [3:3]  Think about that, we leave home and at first we remember what we were taught and act like we are the same kind as our parents. But then the world steps in and we forget or we just don't do. And soon we are no longer of the same kind or of the truth. We wander. So we must remain vigilant--keep remembering the truth and doing the truth.
• Trust God, not your own desires, attitudes, wants. [3:5] This is always the challenge--do I trust God and what He said, or do I have a better idea, a more modern thought, a more culturally relevant idea. This is a question of who is God--is He God or am I. 
• Acknowledge God in everything. [3:6] Sounds like Colossians 3:17, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Look at what the proverb says--if all of my ways acknowledge that He is God and He is Lord, then He will make my path straight. It doesn't say He will make my path easy, all downhill, all free of potholes. It says it will be straight. Goes back to Hebrews 12: as we run our race with endurance, we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. So as we acknowledge God in everything we are walking straight toward Jesus. 
• Acknowledging God in all things means I don't rely on my understanding--I rely on His wisdom. [3:7] Wouldn't it be better to rely on the One who knows everything [past, present and future] and has all wisdom and all knowledge, and all power, than to rely on my Georgia and Vanderbilt education. When my thoughts conflict with His thoughtsor my ways conflict with His ways--He is right.

Now look at verse 8--fearing, worshipping, acknowledging God in all my ways has a benefit--healing for the body [stress, anxiety, fear, doubt] and refreshment to my bones. Now for most of us mature readers--our bones hurt--remembering His commandments and keeping them brings refreshment to our souls. 

Blessings

Larry