The Lord has answered some very specific prayers that I have prayed in the last couple of weeks and it reminded me that we ought to pray specifically. There are certainly times when we just say a quick prayer for help, wisdom, boldness, etc., but when we have the time we ought to bring our request to God with detail: not just asking for His blessing on the day, but rather asking for opportunities to bless others, witness to someone, make Jesus look good, contentment with and thankfulness for what we have, eyes to see the opportunities He gives, wisdom to do things His way, wisdom for setting priorities in our day, and so on. [Or even more specific than that]
When my siblings and I were young my parents asked the Lord to make prayer and the answers to it very real to us children...and He did. I remember several occasions when we were on our way home from a shopping trip and it was pouring down rain. There were younger siblings and groceries to get inside and it's not really fun to do that in the rain. We would pray that the rain would stop long enough for us to get ourselves and the groceries inside dry, and when we parked the car the rain would stop, we would get all the groceries inside...sometimes just on the (covered) porch, and the rain would come down again as soon as the door was shut with the last one of us inside. It was a clear answer to a specific prayer and it made an impression.
I recently had an experience that again demonstrated God's ability and desire (so long as they're in accordance with His will) to answer specific prayers. I asked the Lord for a particular and somewhat unusual thing, and He graciously and completely answered my request.
We must remember that God is not limited by our lack of knowledge or ability. It delights Him when we spend quality time with Him and share our hearts with Him.
"Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden."~Corrie Ten Boom
Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Honesty
In this post I will mostly be sharing Scripture verses and some thoughts from Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbour. Honesty is the 9th commandment.
Exodus 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Adam Clarke says of this verse: "Thou shalt not raise a false report - Acting contrary to this precept is a sin against the ninth commandment. And the inventor and receiver of false and slanderous reports, are almost equally criminal. The word seems to refer to either, and our translators have very properly retained both senses, putting raise in the text, and receive in the margin. The original לא תשא lo tissa has been translated, thou shalt not publish. Were there no publishers of slander and calumny, there would be no receivers; and were there none to receive them, there would be none to raise them; and were there no raisers, receivers, nor propagators of calumny, lies, etc., society would be in peace."
Note: Calumny is a false and slanderous statement.
Psalm 15:1-2 LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. (I hate to stop here with this wonderful chapter, but it could be a post to itself)
Here I'll share Clarke's thoughts again because I like what he said about verse 2.
"He is a true man; in him there is no false way. He is no man of pretenses; speaking one thing, and meaning another. He professes nothing but what he feels and intends; with him there are no hollow friendships, vain compliments, nor empty professions of esteem, love, regard, or friendship. His mouth speaks nothing but what his heart dictates. His heart, his tongue, and his hand, are all in unison. Hypocrisy, guile, and deceit, have no place in his soul."
This brings me to Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Psalm 15:2 talks about speaking the truth in our heart and Matthew says that our speech reveals our heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
In Philippians 4:8 we are exhorted to meditate on the truth: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Make room only for truth and honesty in your heart so that only truth will come out of your lips. Deceit is of Satan, who is the father of it. (John 8:44)
Lying is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,) "But they that deal truly are His delight." (Proverbs 12:22) because God is the source of truth and our example to follow: Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. (John 14:6)
An example of how much God hates lying is found in Acts chapter 5 where the account of Ananias and Sapphira is recorded. They lost their lives as a result of their sin.
A "half truth" is a whole lie.
God says that, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
David did not want dishonest people near him or influencing him: Psalm 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
And in Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbour. Honesty is the 9th commandment.
Exodus 23:1 Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Adam Clarke says of this verse: "Thou shalt not raise a false report - Acting contrary to this precept is a sin against the ninth commandment. And the inventor and receiver of false and slanderous reports, are almost equally criminal. The word seems to refer to either, and our translators have very properly retained both senses, putting raise in the text, and receive in the margin. The original לא תשא lo tissa has been translated, thou shalt not publish. Were there no publishers of slander and calumny, there would be no receivers; and were there none to receive them, there would be none to raise them; and were there no raisers, receivers, nor propagators of calumny, lies, etc., society would be in peace."
Note: Calumny is a false and slanderous statement.
Psalm 15:1-2 LORD, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. (I hate to stop here with this wonderful chapter, but it could be a post to itself)
Here I'll share Clarke's thoughts again because I like what he said about verse 2.
"He is a true man; in him there is no false way. He is no man of pretenses; speaking one thing, and meaning another. He professes nothing but what he feels and intends; with him there are no hollow friendships, vain compliments, nor empty professions of esteem, love, regard, or friendship. His mouth speaks nothing but what his heart dictates. His heart, his tongue, and his hand, are all in unison. Hypocrisy, guile, and deceit, have no place in his soul."
This brings me to Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Psalm 15:2 talks about speaking the truth in our heart and Matthew says that our speech reveals our heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
In Philippians 4:8 we are exhorted to meditate on the truth: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Make room only for truth and honesty in your heart so that only truth will come out of your lips. Deceit is of Satan, who is the father of it. (John 8:44)
Lying is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,) "But they that deal truly are His delight." (Proverbs 12:22) because God is the source of truth and our example to follow: Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus. (John 14:6)
An example of how much God hates lying is found in Acts chapter 5 where the account of Ananias and Sapphira is recorded. They lost their lives as a result of their sin.
A "half truth" is a whole lie.
God says that, "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19
Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
Proverbs 19:22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
David did not want dishonest people near him or influencing him: Psalm 101:7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
And in Proverbs 30:7-9 Two things have I required of Thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me; Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
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