Day: October 3, 2006

Day 10 – Friendship

On By KateIn Various1 Comment

Prov. 22:24, “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:”

Only twice in my spiritual life have I had to remove myself from a friendship because that person was the angry person spoken of in Prov. 22:24. Neither time was pleasant. In fact, both times caused me much grief and inner turmoil. This morning, I am saddened because I have had to do this. The sad thing is that this person will never know the pain and turmoil caused by their actions unless the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in their life.

I don’t believe Prov. 22:24 is telling us to stop a friendship with someone because they have gotten angry every once in a while. However, I do believe that the Lord is speaking of people who have that constant and consistent display of anger and bad attitude. We all know people like this. Nothing ever goes their way – they see the bad in most everything – their mouths get them into much trouble and their words show exactly where their hearts are.

…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Mat 12:34b) But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. (Mat 15:18) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luk 6:45)

God is clear when He tells us that we are not to make friends with an angry person. Why do you think that is? Haven’t you ever been around “Mr. Negativity” for a few hours and started thinking or feeling the same way? I know I have. It is far worse being around someone who is constantly angry and cannot control their temper. Friendship is a close relationship with someone – more than just a casual acquaintance. A friendship involves sometimes daily contact and interaction.

It is a sad state of affairs when you cannot even speak to this person because their angry outbursts take over. It is like a childish temper tantrum. Nor will this person accept admonition – they do not want to see their sin. In fact, in their eyes, they see you as the “bad guy”! They are quick to call you self-righteous for bringing their sin to light. No matter how much Scripture you give this person, their venom continues to spew forth.

One thing I have learned, this person is not a happy person. You become who you hang out with. We preach this to our children – our parents preached it to us. The Lord admonishes us in Prov. 22:24 not to hang out with an angry person. We must heed this warning from the Lord. Otherwise, we will become just like them. How can we be a help to others if we allow ourselves to be sucked into a life of anger and discontentment? We sin against God when we display anger and discontentment. This does not display His Spirit in our lives – whose fruit we should be displaying.

An angry person also is very prideful – they cannot be taught or admonished because they do no wrong in their eyes. But the Lord has much to say about the prideful. I found it interesting that in these two verses in Proverbs, both referenced wisdom coming from the lowly and well advised. The angry person doesn’t follow this route at all. When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. (Pro 11:2) Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. (Pro 13:10)

As I heal my broken heart over this cessation of fellowship, I find great comfort in knowing that I’m being obedient to my Heavenly Father. Daily must we put to death the natural man and the pain that this natural man brings. Daily must we set our sights on the Lord, His Word and go with confidence that He will bring us through each trial.

Dear God…
Although my heart is broken
You’ve reminded me that You
Are always there for comfort
With much mercy given too

Day 21 – Repent and Believe

On By KateIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Reading: Mark 1:15

Today’s verse:

“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

There are two simple commands from Jesus in this verse. Repent and believe. Two very simple words but packed with punch. One cannot be done without the other. You can repent from your sin but not believe on the saving power of Jesus Christ. This will make you a good religious person – but there’s no gaining entrance to heaven with repentance alone because this would be a “work” on your part. Remember, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:9-9)

Or, you could just believe on Jesus Christ and not repent. I’m afraid you’re not in any better shape. There are many so-called “born-again” Christians out there who say they have been saved by the Blood of the Lamb but their lives have not changed whatsoever. They still live the same way, watch the same movies, get drunk with the same old friends, listen to the same old music, go to the same dead church, and never read their Bibles. Remember, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Those old things you use to love to do should now begin to appear to you as sin. You should be “hearing” those curse words now. You should be seeing that taking those paper clips from work is stealing now. You should be able to read your Bible and understand it now. You should be noticing that the message at church is a dead message and not filled with the power from the Bible. You should be hungering to be around other Christians. These things come naturally to the born-again believer.

Picture this : Your baby is born and he starts to cry. Moments later, that cry becomes hysterical. There is no soothing your baby until he is brought to the mother’s breast so he can drink the milk that is awaiting him. God’s Word is our milk. It awaits us as new born-again believers. It is our food and we should crave it and not settle unless we get it. Why? So we can grow as Christians. This Christian walk is not one that comes automatically. We just don’t “become” spiritual. We need to learn just as a baby learns to roll over, to crawl, to walk and then to run. So must we grow as Christians in like manner. Do you hunger for the bible? Dear one, if you are not born again, you surely are not hungering for the Word of God. In fact, you will want to run from it because it exposes your sin.

Peter said that we should desire the Bible as new babies. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2)

Dear God…
I accept your gift with child like faith
I don’t want to complicate Your plan
With true repentance I seek Your face
And leave my soul in the Master’s Hand