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April 14 Time For A Review

A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but the Lord condemns a crafty man. A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. ~Proverbs 12:2-3

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. ~Isaiah 58:9-11

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8

I guess that Solomon thinks that it is time to revisit one of his main themes. No matter how hard they try, wicked schemes will never be established, but righteous living puts down deep roots that God will establish! Then, through Isaiah, God gives details to the kind of life He delights to see His followers live. The crafty person is scheming for his own advancement, but God enjoys it when we look out for others.

First we are called to examine ourselves. Do we oppress anyone? Is our talk malicious? Do we point fingers, judging others? Then, we are called to look out at the needs around us. God calls US, to care for the hungry and take care of the needs of the oppressed. Then we will obtain favor from the Lord and will not be uprooted.  He will not establish or bless the crafty or the plans of the wicked. That is the chaff. Remember the chaff, that will be blown away.

God is good and His plans are good. What He allows to be established will also be good because He can do nothing else. We just need to be reminded of that fact over and over to fight off the discouragement that so easily drags us down. It may be hard now because we can’t come together to encourage each other in the way that we are used to, but God is in this, for our good. He keeps sending us reminders that His good is what will be established. Trust His promise to establish the good and let the discouraging thoughts and doubts drop away.

Prayer: Yes, Lord, and I do humbly admit, that if it weren't for the gospel of Jesus Christ, my forgiveness and salvation, plus the Holy Spirit in me, I wouldn't really believe any of this! At the very least, I'd still be scheming about how good I have to look so that you might let me into heaven! Thank You for Grace and Love and truth that sets me free from the grip of selfish sin, for self preservation can keep me from caring about the needs of others. But in Christ, I lack nothing, no, I shall not want, for the Shepherd is very Good. Thank You, in Jesus' name, amen.

Song: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

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