January 14, 2017

In 2017, we can live life on our terms or in loving obedience to God. Some thoughts on Proverbs 3:1-2.

Proverbs 3 (KJV 1900)

I.  3:1 *My son, forget not my law; A negative admonition: Do not forget. Why would a father tell a son not to forget? Is it not simply because we are prone to forget, prone to wander, prone to be absorbed with ourselves? Solomon, as a father, speaks wisdom to his Son. God, as our Father, speaks wisdom to us through Solomon.

Because we are prone to forget, we need constant reminders. Why does the Lord require us to gather together with frequency for fellowship with each other and the Word of God?

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  (Hebrews 10:25).

 God does not need exhortation to remember us. In fact, one of the comforts which should be dear to our hearts, regardless of our feelings, circumstances or thoughts is that God does not forget His people.

“But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb: yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands…” (Isaiah 49:14-16)

        *But let thine heart keep my commandments: Now Solomon gives a positive admonition for us to keep his commandments. Note God shoots an arrow at the heart because true obedience can only be motivated by a right heart. To obey without heart is like a child taking out the trash griping the whole way. Christians who go through the external pretense of religion without a heart of love are in a dangerous place. Service without heart is like some of the waitresses you may have run into that hate their job. A Father does not want heartless obedience from his children. If we have truly met the Christ, our motivation is based on a love first given to us by Him and now from a free heart that love can flow back to Him.  

 “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” ( I John 3:23-24).

II.  3:2 *For length of days, and long life, Remembering the Lord and loving obedience are life extenders.

      *And peace, shall they add to thee. Peace is based upon a willing “Yes, Lord” from us.

Lord, help us to remember and love You in 2017,

Pastor John Schofield