A good way to get in a wreck is to watch a wreck. Many wrecks have been caused by people “rubber-necking” an accident on the highway. So, staying away from a wreck can keep you from getting in a wreck. This same principle is true in regards to wickedness– thus Solomon’s warning to his son, and to us. Wherever wickedness is to be seen “Avoid it, pass not by it–pass away”.

Expounding on this verse, the daily devotion “A Good Thing” said of this subject:

“—Solomon writes to his son to encourage him to altogether avoid situations that could potentially entangle him in sin. The best approach, Solomon says, is to avoid the scene of wickedness altogether.

However, if you do have to engage such an environment (e.g. at work, at home, in the barracks), this wise father counsels: don’t be guilty of “rubber-necking” the sin around you. Avoid it, don’t go near it, get away from it as quickly as you can.

The magazine rack at the supermarket, with provocative poses on almost every cover? Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. The flirty co-worker at the office? Avoid him, pass not by her, turn from the temptation as quickly as possible and go on your way. The same wisdom applies to ungodly classmates, illicit entertainment, or unhealthy atmospheres.

Will others think you’re strange for so conscientiously avoiding sinful distractions and potential shipwrecks for your faith? Yes, especially if they are rushing headlong toward it themselves. But Solomon is not concerned with what others think—he is concerned about you!

Dear child, Solomon encourages, if you are caught up in any sin or temptation, turn from it immediately and change your path. There is no shame in repentance, but there is nothing but shame in the way of sin.

“Why?” is the most asked question of all. Life is full of miseries we can’t stand and mysteries we can’t understand. And we want aid and answers. However, since God doesn’t explain every experience we are confused. Beyond that, many are angry and bitter. They do not realize that what they need the most is often what they want the least. Unknown to them is the fact that what seems like a grievous burden just might be a great blessing. Blinded by the pain they lose sight of the fact that God has a plan– thus a purpose in their pain, a mission for their misery.

Although no one can answer all your “Why?” questions, here is something you need to remember— nothing ever “just happens”. There are no accidents with God. Everything is either caused or allowed by Him. He is involved in every detail of your life. And, if you trust Him, He will use your experience for any one, or all, of three things– your good, others gain, and God’s glory. Considering the first and second commandments described in Matthew 22: 37-40 “our good” should be the least of our concern. When “our good” becomes our main concern our priorities are wrong. If God is glorified and others gain as a result of our suffering that should be enough to keep us from complaining. Is it not good for us when our pain results in another persons gain and God’s glory? What more should we seek in life than that? So, looking at it in that manner, we can discover pleasure in our pain and rejoice always. Paul certainly did and so can we.

Our problem is that we get hung up on the fact that we can’t always see the fruit of our suffering and we assume it is for naught. That’s where faith comes in. To have peace in adversity we must accept what God says about it, regardless of how we feel or how things appear. God never fails to keep His promises — such as Romans 8:28. Do you believe that? If you don’t you have a problem worse than suffering. A lack of faith in God not only limits what He can do for you and through you, it is an insult to God and sin to you. The means for dealing with your misery is to believe what God says about it. If you are unwilling to do that no explanation would satisfy you. Work on increasing your faith and your fears will diminish. Rest in peace, knowing your misery has a mission.

“—-out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34

Clearly our heart must be right–if we would speak words that are Christlike. A bitter heart cannot give out sweet words–nor can an impure heart speak wholesome, pure words. We have instructions in the New Testament as to the kind of speech that is worthy of a Christian. Paul gives us this good advice: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29.

J. R. Miller wrote:” That is, no word should be spoken which does not . . .
 help to build up character,
 make those who hear it better,
 inspire some good thought, some holy feeling, some kindly act,
 or put some touch of beauty upon the life.

A Christian’s words should “impart grace to the hearers.” That is, they should impart blessing in some way. We all know people whose words have this quality. They are not always exhorting, preaching, or talking religiously–and yet we never speak with them without being the better for it. Their simplest words do us good. They give cheer, courage, and hope. We feel braver and stronger after a little conversation with them, even after a moment’s greeting on the street.

In another place Paul says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Colossians 4:6. This means graceful speech, not merely as to its manner–but also as to its quality. It must be speech such as Christ Himself would use if He were in our place, and we know that every word of His was a holy seed. Our speech is to be “full of grace”–it is to be true, reverent, helpful, inspiring.

Our speech should be “seasoned with salt,” that is, it should be pure and clean. Salt preserves from decay and putridity. The Christian’s speech should have in it the divine quality of holiness, and its effect should be cleansing and purifying. Someone speaks of the words of Jesus as a handful of spices cast into this world’s bitter waters to sweeten them. Every Christian’s words should have like influence in society, wherever they are spoken.

The seasoning is important–our speech is to be “seasoned with salt.” Love is salt. Truth is salt. Our speech should be always kindly. It should be without bitterness, without malice, without unlovingness in any form. The seasoning should be salt. Some people use pepper instead–and pepper is sharp, biting, pungent. Their speech is full of sarcasm, of censure, of bitterness, of words that hurt and burn. This is not Christlike speech.

We should never be content to talk even five minutes with another, without saying at least a word or two that may do good, that may give a helpful impulse or kindle an upward aspiration.”

“Ye are the light of the world”–Matt.5:14

We live in a depraved, difficult, and dangerous world— but, we Christians have a job to do. If we aren’t careful our fears will keep us from doing what we should. We need to remember that we aren’t excused from duty because it is dangerous.Pastor Jack Graham addressed this issue with an example out of his own life. He wrote:

“Back when we lived on the East Coast, one of the things we used to do was go look at various lighthouses. I love lighthouses because they’re such a powerful picture of what it means to be an effective witness for Christ.

You see, you don’t find lighthouses in the middle of metropolitan areas. Their light would simply be drowned out by the light of so many other buildings. No, you find lighthouses on dark, dangerous shorelines where they’re exposed to the harsh elements and yet do their job of leading people safely to shore.

As a believer in Christ, God hasn’t called you to just huddle up with all the rest of the lights. He’s called you to go out, risking safety and comfort for the purpose of letting your light shine where it’s needed most.

Don’t just hang around Christians in your holy huddle at church. Get out in the world and take risks to bring others to Christ. Be a true light in a dark world and illuminate the path of Jesus Christ for the lost to come home!”

BE A TRUE LIGHT IN THE DARK WORLD BY GETTING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND SHOWING JESUS TO THE WORLD!

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines; for our our vines have tender grapes.–SS 2:15

The little things of life are of great importance. Those who fail to see this become little people. A great man will never ignore their importance. He understands that the neglect of little things will bring him down little by little.

Surely you have noticed that the Word of God sets forth some of the most beautiful and important lessons in the form of little things—little flowers, little birds, little drops of dew, little children, etc. And it demands faithfulness in the things that are least. In other words, the Bible makes a big deal out of little things–and that should get our attention in a big way!

John Colwell wrote in 1882:”My friend, life is great because it is the aggregation of littles.

As the coral reefs which rear themselves high above the crawling sea beneath, are all made up of minute skeletons of microscopic animalcules; so life, mighty and solemn as having eternal consequences–life that hangs over the sea of eternity, is made up of these minute incidents, of these trifling duties, of these small tasks; and only those who are faithful in the least are, or can be, faithful in the whole.

Little things make either . . .
  the joy–or the sorrow,
  the success–or the ruin,
  the safety–or the danger,
  the grandeur–or the smallness
–of human life. Illustrations of this principle abound.

Little neglects lead to great ruin.

Little precautions lead to great safety.

Little wastings make great losses.

Little savings make great gains.

Little troubles make us miserable.

Little virtues make us godly.

Little vices make us wicked.

Therefore, says inspired Wisdom, “Catch the foxes–the little foxes that spoil the vines,” which is equivalent to saying, “I know you will keep out the more hateful and destructive full-grown foxes by stopping all the large holes in the vineyard fence. Your danger lies in overlooking the smaller gaps by which the little foxes may enter, and thus spoil your vines by robbing them of the tender grapes.”

How forcibly may this advice be urged upon Christian people! They will be almost certain to secure the vineyard against the intrusion of shameful vices, destructive sins, and great scandals; but are they always so careful to stop the smaller breaches in the fence of their Christian character against the little foxes, lesser sins, smaller vices, and trifling moral blemishes which, nevertheless, spoil the loveliness and perfection of their lives? Judging from observation and experience, we fear not.”