“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law.” (Proverbs 29:18)

A vision and goal are necessary for any serious pursuit.  We cannot endure and strive without a clear picture of what it is that we wish to achieve.  Life without goals means that we are simply going to let our lusts and passions go unrestrained.  Such a life will be filled with wasted time and looked back upon with regrets and shame.

How clear is your vision of heaven?  How serious are you about the goal of achieving your eternal reward?  Life is short – know what you are going to spend it on.

“So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1-9; Psalm 29; Proverbs 29 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11)

Losing your temper is a sign of weakness, not strength.  A man who cannot control himself ought not to be trusted with authority over others.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1-9; Psalm 29; Proverbs 29 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.” (Proverbs 29:7)

In the Jewish society of God’s design, being poor did not make you less of a person.  Poverty was a financial state, not a lower state.

As tyranny and wickedness increase in a culture, it often does the opposite.  The poor, who by definition have less influence, are easily oppressed, and the scales tip toward tyranny.  Such tyranny of the rich over the poor is disgusting to God and should be so to all His people.

All humans are created equal, and God’s design is that regardless of financial circumstances, all humans should be gifted with the same rights and protections.  Under such a moral system, all people have equality of opportunity to flourish and be guarded from molestation.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1-9; Psalm 29; Proverbs 29 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.” (Ruth 4:14)

         The story of Ruth is the story of redemption from tragedy.  Two widows, Ruth and Naomi, who clung to the Lord through heartache and poverty, found that He saved them.  They always had just enough, even in the leanest times, and in the end, God honored what the rest of the world considered the very least of society.

         God valued them highly while life considered them utterly worthless.  Do not accept the world’s valuation of your soul – your Redeemer loves you and will see you through the darkest of seasons.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Ruth 3-4; 1 Samuel 1-9; Psalm 29; Proverbs 29 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“…all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” (Ruth 3:11)

Reputation is the widespread belief of your character.  Reputation is created as people watch us over time.  You can’t tell people what your reputation is; they can only see it.  And just like with Ruth… people are watching.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Ruth 3-4; Psalm 29; Proverbs 29 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Do not drag me away with the wicked and with those who work iniquity, who speak peace with their neighbors, while evil is in their hearts.” (Psalm 28:3)

The hardest part about loving your neighbor is that you must actually do it.  It isn’t enough to say, “Bless their heart” and then roll your eyes and judge them once they leave the room.  It must be genuine care and concern.  We haven’t truly learned to love until we speak peace with our neighbors while longing for peace with them in our hearts, too.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Judges 16-21; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“It came about when she [Delilah] pressed him [Samson] daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death. So he told her all that was in his heart…” (Judges 16:16-17)

The life of Samson is a case study of a man who had the outer strength of a hundred men but was broken by the words of a wooing woman.  The extremes highlight the point.  There is more power in words than in armies.  Say what you will, but Delilah was stronger than Samson.

Samson’s masculine strength caused him to ignore his weaknesses.  Men are not stronger than women, just different.  A godly woman can win her husband’s heart without a word (see 1 Peter 3:1), and a wicked woman can deceive the strongest of men.  The power of women to change the world is underrated.

We need more godly women with selfless hearts… women who change the world through service, steadfastness, and unashamed love of hearth and home.  Women like Abigail, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Sarah, and hosts of others weave together their families and generations which follow after. 

The Delilahs of the world often get all the press because wickedness makes for better headlines, but every day, godly women sacrifice their “five minutes of fame,” so those around them can shine brighter.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Judges 16-21; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.” (Proverbs 28:27)

Generosity begins with the willingness to see that which makes us uncomfortable.  If we are unwilling to look at poverty, sorrow, and need in our fellow man, we will never cultivate the character needed to show generosity to them.

We cannot be empathetic to what we ignore.  Human suffering doesn’t go away just because we do not wish to see it.  Open your eyes and open your heart.  Generosity begins with not expecting others to take care of the need.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Judges 16-21; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“… but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them.” (Judges 20:34)

The tribe of Benjamin had committed some heinous sins against their fellow man and against God, and yet, they were content in their wickedness. That contentment led to a false sense of security at home and in battle.

When their defeat came upon them, it caught them by surprise. They didn’t know how close to the cliff’s edge they had been living. A life without God is a precarious one. Wickedness is a life without a solid foundation, and the house of cards will eventually fall.

Sin comes with instantaneous gratification, but unintended long-term grief. Sexual sins, intoxication, pride, greed, laziness, and other self-indulgent ways woo us with the hope of joy and leave us with the reality of tears.

We never know how close disaster is, but without God holding the pieces together, eventually, it all unravels.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Judges 16-21; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

Conviction is the stuff heroes are made of.

If our scruples are for sale, we must constantly pander to whomever is the highest bidder.  Only a love of truth and righteousness will provide the steel that makes our backbones strong.

Principles makes you bold.

“But Peter and John answered them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:19-20)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: Judges 16-21; Ruth 1-2; Psalm 28; Proverbs 28 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision