#215 - The Ultimate Game

Proverbs 9:3,6 - She has sent out her maids to cry from the highest places of the town...Leave off, simple ones [forsake the foolish and simpleminded] and live! And walk in the way of insight and understanding.

Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

Life is busy. Would you say these would be some of the priorities you deal with? Job, kids, family, cleaning the house, owning a business, doing laundry, cooking, working to have a consistent quiet time, working out, reading maybe some self-improvement books, trying to stay organized, keeping the bedroom picked up and clothes in their place, spending quality time with your spouse.... and then maybe even some down time for you. With all the priorities we already have, is there really room for anything else?

I looked at Proverbs 9 this morning and noticed that it is talking about "Wisdom" here. Wisdom is sending out maids to help guide people to insight and understanding. Wisdom is trying to steer the foolish, those who may be on the wrong path. She is trying to steer them to the path of LIFE. Wisdom wants them to live. We know that our Proverbs 31 friend walks in wisdom as well, and she also has maids. As a Proverbs 31 woman, do we have more of a responsibility? As a Christian, with our long list of things that occupy our time, do we have more of a responsibility? We are reminded of this responsibility also in Matthew 28:19, where it tells us to "GO and make disciples!" Here we see Wisdom doing that very thing, leading people to insight & understanding (which ultimately is Jesus.)

I would anticipate that our Proverbs 31 friend does the same as Wisdom. Being on her game to share the gospel. Being on her game to step out in boldness and ask the tough questions. Being on her game to steer others to the path that leads to life. Sometimes it is as simple as one question, "Do you know Jesus? Do you know what he did for you?"

To be on point. To play in the "The Ultimate Game," the game of leading people to the truth, leading people to life.

As we go about our productive, daily lives... today, is there anyone in your path that may not know Jesus? Could YOU be the one to ask them the question that may very well change their life? Change their eternity?

___________________

Check out the video in yesterday's post! 

Jesus did all of that for YOU, me & the person who needs to know Him. 

#180 - Reverent Fear of the Lord

Good morning! Happy belated Mother's Day to all you moms out there! :) I pray you had a great day. I had a great day getting to spend time with my two favorite boys! :) Tyler Sr & Tyler Jr!

OK... let's get going today... more of a look into the life of who this Proverbs 31 woman is...

Proverbs 9:10a-11 - The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom... ¹¹For by me [Wisdom from God] your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

Proverbs 31:30 - Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! 

In Proverbs 9:10, the Hebrew further describes "fear" as: awesome thing, respect, reverence, piety. We're talking about having the utmost respect for the God Most High! The King of Kings. Though we can cry "Abba Father" and cry out to him as a Father figure, we also have a healthy respect for Him, there is a humility that would cause us to bow at His feet because He is so great. A worshipful respect, a worshipful honor, to hold Him up, highly exalted. This is honoring to our Father. I'm just briefly reminded of how Sarah called Abraham "lord" with a lower case "l". Now, don't get me wrong... I'm not going around calling Tyler, "lord", but the same feeling behind it is one of respect. A respect and honor. I know I have times with Tyler, where he is more of the person where I sit on his lap and get a hug, but equally so, I know he values and appreciates it when I show him respect as head of the home. When I value his opinion and recommendations instead of always "questioning" or "second guessing."

Bottom line, what is a great benefit to having a reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord? Proverbs 9:11 lets us know the great news! Those who fear the Lord, honor Him, respect Him, THEIR days shall be multiplied, the years of their life will be increased! Imagine this... living a good life, living a long life because you are a "good person", but then you add honor, respect, fear of the Lord to the equation and the already decently "long life" that you have is extended! Your years are increased! Time with loved ones is extended! Time to accomplish great things for the Kingdom, time to pour into your grandchildren or great grandchildren is increased. TIME. Fearing & honoring the Lord gives you a precious commodity that so many people long for more of, TIME!

Our Proverbs 31 friend has figured out a way to accomplish this. Proverbs 31:29 tells us that SHE excels them all! She excels ALL women! Verse 30 explains WHO will be praised. It's not the woman with a 6-pack set of abs, though our Proverbs 31 friend is in good health and physically fit. But it is the person who above all else, honors, respects & fears the Lord.

I took time this morning to just think about what that really means. What does it mean to "fear" the Lord, or show Him "reverence." I came up with a list that I think is a good start. Let me know what you would add.... what do you think?

• Obedience - One who is obedient to His Word shows him honor and respect. One who follows His commandments for our life. 
• Study - One who honors Him by KNOWING and STUDYING His Word. His direction for our life. 
• Love - I'm reminded of Jesus talking in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. In Matthew 5, Jesus talks about loving those who love you, don't even SINNERS do that? Jesus says, "But I tell you, Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you." Later it talks about whatever you do for someone else, it is as if you are doing it TO Jesus himself. How are you treating even your enemies? Those people who get under your skin? The potential "thorn" in your side... how are you praying for them? Are you wishing evil upon them? Are you even praying for them? What does your heart look like when you pray for them? Ask God to give you compassion for them, to show you more into why they are acting as they are. 
• Praise - Honor & fearing the Lord through praising Him! Thanking Him. Through song, through your words, through offering thanks. 

Honor, respect, fear, obedience... I desire to let my Father know that I honor Him above all else. That I don't put anything in front of Him. That I fear Him out of respect. I humble myself out of respect for ALL He has done for me. For sending His ONLY Son just for me! In return, He blesses me & you even further by increasing the years of our life. What a blessing. 

So... today... can you attempt to honor, respect or fear the Lord in at least ONE way? Show Him today that above all else, like the Proverbs 31 woman, that you too have a reverent & worshipful fear of the Lord.