Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘Proverbs 28’

Read Luke 19:11-26, Proverbs 28
Can God Trust You?

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

We hear a lot about “in God we trust” and trusting God but not enough about God trusting us. “Are we trustworthy?” is a question we should ponder daily and a character quality we should seek to grow in, especially in our love relationship with God. Read the rest of this entry »

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Proverbs 28
We Are All on Welfare

“He looked down on the Israelites and felt deep concern for their welfare.”Exodus 2:25 NLT

There is often a certain stigma and common attitude of looking down upon welfare recipients. Often this is based on St. Paul’s admonition in 2 Thessalonians 3:10b,“whoever does not work should not eat.”

Before we get too critical and judgmental about the less fortunate, we need to be ever mindful that we are totally dependent upon God’s grace and mercy as He provides.

We need to remember that everything we have comes from God and that we are all paupers save for the riches we have by His grace.

Unlike the welfare rights organizations that are always pushing for more and more handouts, we don’t have to make demands for anything.

Our spiritual poverty qualifies us for God’s welfare program the instant we realize our need for a Savior and ask for and receive the fullness of God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are transformed by the renewing of our minds through a new birth where we receive God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense a.k.a. GRACE!

Our impoverished souls are set free from slavery to sin and are filled with power from on high to receive all of the riches of our inheritance as sons and daughters of the living Lord.

Our welfare is assured by the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us as a guarantee that all of the riches of eternal life are ours to enjoy forever.

Our welfare is second only to God’s glory. He loves us unconditionally, forgives us forever, and accepts us just as we are. He begins working all things for our good and His glory as He begins conforming us into the image of Christ.

Father, thank you for putting me on Your welfare rolls. Amen.

“Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing. But a curse will come upon those who close their eyes to poverty.” Proverbs 28:27 NLT

“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.”
Galatians 6:1 MSG

Read Luke 11:39-44, Proverbs 28
Just A Little Bit More

“O God, I beg two favors from You before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT

To the greedy, how much is enough is always “just a little bit more.” Even the ungreedy often have a difficult time distinguishing between wants and needs.

We live in a consumer-driven economy that is based on creating a demand and then supplying that demand, and everything is made to look and sound so appealing.

Whether the world or the devil is doing the tempting, it is hard to resist the promise of the beer ads for fun and adventure, the car ads for the hemi, or for more power, more of everything, shampoo for beautiful hair,etc.

All we have to do is discard our old and try the new and improved.

Satan will often plant seeds of dissatisfaction with our jobs and even our marriages to get us looking for “just a little bit more” happiness.

Sometimes we are so focused on seeking “just a little bit more” that we have it made and don’t even know it until we mess up and realize too late how good we really had it.

Generosity is one of the best antidotes for greed that has ever been invented. It also opens up the flood gates of God’s blessings with which He wants to bless us.

What we really need to understand is that our worth and wealth is not based on what we have but on Who we have. We can always be greedy for “just a little bit more” of Jesus!

Father, help me to be like Paul and learn to be content and filled with Your peace and joy, no matter what my worldly circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Read Luke 11:39-44, Proverbs 28

Just A Little Bit More

Sorry no audio today.

“O God, I beg two favors from You before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny You and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT

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