October 31, 2022

 God With Us

Happy Monday! 

It is the last day of October. We are moving towards the holidays. 

As you plan and prepare blessings to you and your family. 

We have been reading the book of proverbs. In this life we need wisdom. We have things we can grow from and learn from. For example, I was on Instagram and a young man posted a video of a deer leaping backwards causing himself the inability to move. The caption was God made him (fail). The post received thousands of laughs and sadly no sympathy. I know it's just a deer, but I could not help myself I FELT bad for it. It could not move. Its little legs were just kicking. He was down and he would become prey without the ability to run. And everyone was laughing. 

 Maybe God did cause the failure but is that the response we should have towards failure. I also thought it reminded me of dogs when they act strange. It means something in their body is bothering them. Or just maybe the animal wanted to scratch his back but whatever happened the animal leaped backwards and could not get back up. 

The people judged why it happened. Them saying God did it meant that it was okay to laugh. So, no one helped the animal. God put it in my heart to say what would you did in the midst of WATCHING another person's failure, and secondly do you think God really made the animal flip backwards. We will never know the mind of God. But what does God want us to do.  Personally, for me, it was not funny because I really thought something was wrong with the animal so my response would have been medical attention but so many people thought it was funny. So, the animal just suffered. I was a bit intrigued by the response of the majority of people. 

WHAT SHOULD A BELIEVER THINK!

What should our response be to failure in another's life.

What should our response be too bad news or sad news to others. 

What should our response be towards those who are sick with uncontrollable diseases. 

The book of wisdom is crying out to us to listen because she wants us to avoid all these nasty things in life. 
Is God really causing it? 

Is it bad choices? 

The response of Jesus

He helped them. It did not matter the reason why something happened or even if it was deserved. He told them their sins were forgiven and then he helped them get to wholeness. Maybe the failure is a chance to get it right. Even when they deserved what happened to them. The parable of the man who fell among thieves. Some people walked by him, but the Lord wants us to stop and help. Maybe he talked to much. He created it. No matter what we think caused it or what we know caused it laughing at them is not a godly response, but it is when we open up our bowels of mercy we become so much like God. 

Proverbs 

Proverbs 13

New International Version

13 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction,

    but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,

    but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,

    but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

4 A sluggard’s appetite is never filled,

    but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

5 The righteous hate what is false,

    but the wicked make themselves a stench

    and bring shame on themselves.

6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,

    but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;

    another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8 A person’s riches may ransom their life,

    but the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.

9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,

    but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,

    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

11 Dishonest money dwindles away,

    but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

    but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,

    but whoever respects a command is rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

    turning a person from the snares of death.

15 Good judgment wins favor,

    but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]

16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,

    but fools expose their folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

    but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.

18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,

    but whoever heeds correction is honored.

19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

    but fools detest turning from evil.

20 Walk with the wise and become wise,

    for a companion of fools suffers harm.

21 Trouble pursues the sinner,

    but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children,

    but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,

    but injustice sweeps it away.

24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,

    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

25 The righteous eat to their hearts’ content,

    but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.

Have a great day!