For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him). 22 For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom, 23 We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. 24 But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God.  1 Corinthians 1:21-24 AMP

 

The world, with all its earthly wisdom, is not wise enough to recognize and know God. As in Paul’s day, there are some people who are never satisfied no matter what they see – they always want more proof than what they have already seen before they believe. Then there are people who are educated beyond their intellect; they are so smart they are stupid; they have already decided that if they can’t see it, hear it, feel it, taste it, or smell it, it does not exist. These kinds of people regularly resist and oppose the work of God in the earth. If you are truly a believer, you know that the Spirit realm is very real and that the preaching of the gospel is not foolishness, but it is the power of God and the wisdom of God. It has the power to radically and positively transform lives.

 

It is human nature to want approval, to want others to like us and accept us. The devil tries to get us to back off of the power of God and the word of God by caring too much about other people’s opinion. It doesn’t take much to stop some people. They are so afraid of man’s disapproval that sometimes they won’t even admit to being a Christian. Jesus said that if we are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us.

 

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.  Mark 8:38 NKJV

 

If God is real to you, if you are full of His word and you know His power, then you can be bold to proclaim the gospel to everyone no matter who they are or what they believe.

 

Both to Greeks and to barbarians (to the cultured and to the uncultured), both to the wise and the foolish, I have an obligation to discharge and a duty to perform and a debt to pay. 15 So, for my part, I am willing and eagerly ready to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek, 17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.  Romans 1:14-17 AMP

 

Before Paul had an encounter with the power and presence of God on the road to Damascus, he was a proud Pharisee called Saul. He was ruthless in the defense of his beliefs, leading the movement to destroy all Christians and eradicate Christianity. He was there when Stephen was martyred and stoned to death. After Jesus appeared to Paul and he was saved, set free and filled with the Holy Spirit, he was bold to proclaim the gospel and lift up the Name of Jesus. He had experienced the power of God and he knew that it was real. Now he became the one who was persecuted, harassed and tortured for his faith in God. Jesus had done so much for him, heaven was so real to him, and he was going to obey the call of God on his life no matter what the cost.

 

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He knew the power of the gospel; that it is real; that God always confirms His word with signs and wonders following. He felt the call of God to preach boldly and unashamed to all people, no matter what their viewpoint, no matter whether they received it or not. He knew that it was not his reputation on the line, but God’s. He knew that it was not his job to make people believe – they had to make that choice for themselves – but his responsibility was to preach and demonstrate the gospel and give people the opportunity to believe and receive. He could not afford to be ashamed of the gospel because people’s lives depended on it – their eternity depended on him enduring the lies, the persecution, the beatings, the hardships, and even the threat of death – so that they could hear the gospel and be saved from their sins.

 

The people of the world are waiting for the people of God to stand up boldly for the sake of the gospel and bring salvation, healing and deliverance to a lost and dying world!

 

One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a rich and influential woman lived, who insisted on his eating a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.

 

9 And she said to her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God who passes by continually.

 

10 Let us make a small chamber on the [housetop] and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then whenever he comes to us, he can go [up the outside stairs and rest] here.

 

11 one day he came and turned into the chamber and lay there.

 

12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him.

 

13 And he said to Gehazi, Say now to her, You have been most painstakingly and reverently concerned for us; what is to be done for you? Would you like to be spoken for to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people [they are sufficient].

 

14 Later Elisha said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, She has no child and her husband is old.

 

15 He said, Call her. [Gehazi] called her, and she stood in the doorway.

 

16 Elisha said, At this season when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid.

 

17 But the woman conceived and bore a son at that season the following year, as Elisha had said to her.  2 Kings 4:8-17 AMP

Shunem was a city in the tribe of Issachar that lay in the road between Samaria and Carmel, a road that Elisha often traveled. One day as Elisha passed through town, a rich and influential woman who lived there insisted that he stopped for a meal at her house. She did not give him an opportunity to say no thank you — she would not take no for an answer — she was going to be a blessing to him whether he liked it or not.  Fortunately, he liked it.  And after that, when ever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.

 

She was not only rich and influential, but she was obviously deeply committed to the Lord.  She recognized that Elisha was a prophet of the Most High God and, out of respect for God, she desired to be a blessing to his prophet. She asked her husband for permission to provide a special room furnished with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, exclusively for Elisha’s use. 

 

Not only did she feed him, but she provided a private accommodation for him to use any time he needed it. This woman did not do this with any ulterior motives.  She did not do this so that she could brag to her friends that the prophet stayed in her house. She did this because she loved God, she recognized his messenger, and she simply wanted to bless the prophet, and in so doing, she blessed the Lord.  She did not expect anything from Elisha in return, she simply did what she felt was right.

One day while Elisha was lying upon his bed, in the rich woman’s house, he began to wonder what he could do for her.  I believe that the Holy Spirit stirred him up to begin to think about it.  He had some political influence and so he asked her if there was anything that he could do for her. He offered to use his influence for her in the king’s court, but she politely declined.  She did not need favor from man — she was already well connected politically.  What she did desire — only God could give her!

If Elisha could not intervene for her in the courts of men, he wondered if he could intervene on her behalf in the courts of heaven.  Elisha servant, Gehazi, thought he knew what she needed and told Elisha.  She was married, but had no children, and now her husband was old. Obviously it was very painful for her that she had borne no children, but she had had to give up on that dream.  She put it behind her and went on with her life and yet, deep down in her heart, the desire was still there. So Elisha told her that at the same time next year she would hold a son.  She became very emotional and said to the prophet, “Please don’t mess with my emotions — only speak the truth to me because I cannot bear to be disappointed once again after all this time.” Sure enough, the next year, against all odds her son was born.

Many times people only do what’s right in order to impress other people and to be seen of man.  Often they will only bless those who can bless them in return and do them some special favor. Before they do anything they always ask, “What’s in it for me?” They are selfishly motivated and they will never have the blessing of God on their life. Because the Shunammite woman honored God by being a blessing to his prophet, God went out of his way to bless her and to give her the secret desire of her heart. She did not pursue recognition or a reward — she pursued God — therefore God stirred up his prophet to speak out her heart’s desire and He blessed her with a baby boy — something that was impossible in the natural! 

When you go out of your way to bless God and to be a blessing to His people — then he will pursue you and go out of His way to give you the desires of your heart — even if they are impossible in the natural!

 

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  Romans 10:12-14 NIV

 

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

 

13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

 

14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

 

15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” 

 

16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

 

17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert?

 

18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?

 

19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.   Hebrews 3:12-19 NIV

 

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

 

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 

 

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.

 

4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”  

 

5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

 

6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.  Hebrews 4:1-6 NIV

 

Everyone must have the opportunity to hear the gospel so that everyone may have the opportunity to receive the Word of God and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you have a heart that hungers for the truth, you will recognize it when you see it and hear it. God’s Word is truth (John 17:17).

 

For all those who have heard the truth, recognized it and received it, there are others who have heard it and yet they rejected it. Because of unbelief, they could not enter into God’s promises and His blessings. Because they had no faith in the Word they heard, the message was of no value to them. Even though God’s Word is true and full of power, it can do nothing for the doubter or the unbeliever.

 

It is the same Word preached to all and yet it works for some and not for others. Why? Because some believed and some refused to believe.

When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?

 

55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?

 

56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”

 

57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

 

58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  Matthew 13:54-58 NKJV

 

Mark 6:6 says that, “He marveled because of their unbelief.” Jesus was shocked and amazed at unbelief. Most people are shocked when someone actually believes in the Word of God, but God is shocked when they don’t! So many people, all over the nation of Israel, were healed, delivered, raised from the dead and made whole, and yet these people, in Jesus’ home town, received nothing from God. This proves that people don’t receive miracles – not because God does no miracles – but because of their unbelief.

 

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,

 

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

 

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.

 

28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

 

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

 

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

 

31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?'”

 

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.

 

33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

 

34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”   Mark 5:25-34 NKJV

 

Because this woman had FAITH in the anointing on Jesus and faith in the power of God on His life, she believed that if she touched His clothes, she would be healed. Because of her faith, when she touched Jesus, she drew on the anointing and He felt power go out of Him.

 

Many people were touching Him, but only one drew the anointing out of Him and received her healing. Your faith makes all the difference. God has made many wonderful promises, but it is YOUR faith that draws on the anointing and power of God that makes the promises come true in your life!

 

As it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.

 

16 But thanks be to God Who planted the same earnest zeal and care for you in the heart of Titus.

 

17 For he not only welcomed and responded to our appeal, but was himself so keen in his enthusiasm and interest in you that he is going to you of his own accord.

 

18 But we are sending along with him that brother [Luke?] whose praise in the Gospel ministry [is spread] throughout all the churches;

 

19 And more than that, he has been appointed by the churches to travel as our companion in regard to this bountiful contribution which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself and [to show] our eager readiness [as Christians to help one another].

 

20[For] we are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration of this large contribution.

 

21 For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.  2 Corinthians 8:15-21 AMP

 

If you consider yourself a Christian, if you are a born-again child of God, you are obligated to live according to the Word of God – it is your duty and your privilege. It is very important that you are honest in all things, especially money. You ought to conduct yourself in such a way that you are above reproach and above suspicion. Paul said that he provided for honest things (KJV), which means that he took thought beforehand – he planned and he aimed – to be honest and absolutely above suspicion in financial matters. He did this in the sight of God and of man.

 

If you want to be honest before God then you must be completely and absolutely honest, for He sees everything you do and He knows what is in your heart – you cannot fool Him. Paul said that he planned, he took thought beforehand, and he aimed to be honest. You have to have a plan, you have to set a standard for your life so that when the occasion arises that your character is tested, you do not have to then decide how to conduct yourself, because you have already decided to do the right thing.

Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time?

 

46 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.

 

47 I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

 

48 But if that servant is wicked and says to himself, My master is delayed and is going to be gone a long time,

 

49 And begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken,

 

50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware,

 

51 And will punish him [cut him up by scourging] and put him with the pretenders (hypocrites); there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.  Matthew 24:45-51 AMP

 

God gives everyone of us a chance to prove ourselves and to prove what is in our heart. He gives us authority and responsibility and then He leaves us alone to do it. He does not stand over us and nag or beg, He does not force us, but He leaves us to prove our faithfulness and integrity.

 

In this parable, before the master leaves, he puts his servant in charge – he gives him authority over the other servants and the responsibility to take care of them and to provide food and supplies at the proper time.

 

The faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant is honest and he does what is expected of him even though no one is watching over him, because he knows that the master could come back at any time and he wants to please him. If that same servant was foolish and wicked, he would take advantage of the situation and instead of doing his duty and taking care of his fellow servants, he would get drunk and beat them.

 

The problem is that when his master came back, unexpectedly, he would be in big trouble. His master would discover that he had been unfaithful and dishonest and he would punish him and put him with the other hypocrites.

 

Abstain from all appearance of evil.  KJV Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.  AMP 1 Thessalonians 5:22

 

You need to be faithful and honest at all times because God is watching over you. You need to run away from evil – even the appearance of it. If you avoid even the appearance of evil, you will protect yourself from evil itself. Run from evil and choose to do right and the blessing of God will be on your life.

 

 

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them? 2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up; behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah [the tribe] said to [the tribe of] Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my allotted territory, so that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your territory. So Simeon went with him. Judges 1:1-3 NIV

 

Judges 1:4-36 tells us what each tribe did with their enemies. Judah and Simeon drove out or killed all their enemies except for those inhabiting the difficult valley basin, because they had chariots of iron. The Lord was also with the house of Joseph, who went up against Bethel. However, the tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan, did not do as they were told. All these tribes of Israel lived alongside these heathen nations and used them for forced labor instead of driving them out or destroying them together with their altars to idols and demon gods. Therefore the Israelites picked up their evil customs and their bad habits.

The angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bokim and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? 3 Now therefore I tell you that I will not drive them out before you; they will be [thorns] in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.”  Judges 2:1-3 NIV

 

The Israelites were in covenant with Almighty God, a covenant He swore never to break. For them to make covenants with the ungodly was completely unacceptable. Because of their disobedience, these nations became thorns in their sides and their gods became a snare to them. If you won’t deal with the root of sin, disobedience and bad habits in your life, and get rid of them by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will harass you all the days of your life. And there is nothing God can do for you until you make the decision to completely obey God in your life.

Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They provoked the LORD to anger 13 because they forsook him and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. 14 In his anger against Israel the LORD handed them over to raiders who plundered them. He sold them to their enemies all around, whom they were no longer able to resist. 15 Whenever Israel went out to fight, the hand of the LORD was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them. They were in great distress.  Judges 2:8-15 NIV

 

Because Joshua’s generation did not completely obey God, they did not set a good example for their children. Because they lived amongst the enemy, their children were influenced by the culture and beliefs of their enemies. When that generation died, the new generation – who did not know the Lord or the great things that He had done for their fathers – began to serve the gods of the ungodly, the Baals and the Ashtoreths. Because of their rebellion, God sold them into the hands of their enemies and never again empowered them to defeat their enemies. Instead they were doomed to live in great distress.

 

The sad thing is that they had all the wonderful promises they needed from God. Because they would not listen to Him, because they would not believe Him or obey Him, He could do nothing to help them or bless them, but He had to leave them to their own devices. Even today there are many Christians who do not believe God’s Word or obey Him, and yet they see Him as either the source of their problems or at the least as a God Who does not see or hear or care, when all along, they are the problem and the source of their own troubles. God is no respecter of persons – He gives us all the opportunity to serve and obey Him and be blessed or to go our own way and be cursed. It’s your choice – if you are smart, you will make the choice to serve God all the days of your life.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him]. 8 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. 

1 John 4:7-8 AMP

 

God is love and only those who really know God have His agape love flowing out of them. 

 

In this the love of God was made manifest (displayed) where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son, the only begotten or unique [Son], into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.  1 John 4:9-10 AMP

 

God clearly demonstrated His deep love toward us when He sent His only begotten Son to die so that we might live.

 

Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another. 12 No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!  1 John 4:11-12 AMP

 

If God loves us so much, then we ought to also love each other. Even though we cannot see God, we can walk in His love and His love can become fully developed and mature within us.

 

By this we come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we abide (live and remain) in Him and He in us: because He has given (imparted) to us of His [Holy] Spirit. 14 And [besides] we ourselves have seen (have deliberately and steadfastly contemplated) and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son [as the] Savior of the world. 15 Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God.

1 John 4:13-15 AMP

God makes His home in you and you make your home in Him when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

 

And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.  1 John 4:16 AMP

 

We know that God loves us because He says so in His Word and because we have experienced His love. If we want to continue to live in Him and He in us, we must continue to walk in love.

 

In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].  1 John 4:17-18 AMP

 

As we continue to walk with God and as we continue to allow Him to work in our hearts, then love is brought into completion in us, because as He is, so are we in this world. We can then come boldly into His presence, with no fear of punishment, because we are confident of the love that God has for us.

We love Him, because He first loved us.  1 John 4:19 AMP

 

We love him because we know how much He loves us. He reached out to love us first, before we knew Him or anything about Him at all.

 

If anyone says, I love God, and hates (detests, abominates) his brother [in Christ], he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, Whom he has not seen. 21 And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother [believer] also.  1 John 4:20-21 AMP

 

God commands us to love our brothers and sisters. The most compelling proof that we love God is that we love our brothers and sisters as well. If we say we love God and yet we do not love our neighbor, then we are lying – we do not really love God at all.

 

 

10 A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

12 She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

13 She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

14 She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].

15 She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

16 She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

18 She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

19 She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

20 She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

21 She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

23 Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

26 She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

27 She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!
Proverbs 31:10-31 AMP

Romans 12:1-21

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

 

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

 

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

 

4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

 

5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

 

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

 

7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;

 

8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

 

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

 

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

 

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

 

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

 

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

 

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

 

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

 

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

 

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

 

20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 

 

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NKJV

As Christians, we have a code of conduct to follow. God expects a certain standard of behavior from us that is different from the way we conducted ourselves when we were in the world. This passage in God’s Word gives us some practical guidelines that we need to follow concerning our Christian conduct.

 

Verse 6 says that we all have gifts that differ according to the grace that is given to us. Grace is God’s ability given to us – not indiscriminately – but according to His divine purpose and plan. Verse 8 says that the person who gives should give with simplicity and singleness (without strings attached and without an ulterior motive). We should give with sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking). Dissimulation is deception, dishonesty or pretense. 

 

Self-seeking means that a person only gives in order to benefit themselves and not others. The Lord wants us to give in order that we would be a blessing to someone else. When we give it should be generously, liberally and bountifully.

 

Verse 10 says that we should be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and that we should honor and give preference to one another.

 

Verse 11 says that we should not be slothful in business. We should be fervent in spirit – never lagging in zeal and earnest endeavor. We must be diligent as we serve the Lord – everything we do for Him should be done well and to the best of our ability.

 

Verse 16 says that we should be of the same mind toward one another. We should not set our minds on high things, but we should condescend to men of low estate – we should associate with the humble.

 

 We must treat everyone the same way – not looking down on any person as being beneath us. We must not be haughty, snobbish, high-minded or exclusive, but we should readily adjust ourselves to people and things and be prepared to give ourselves to humble tasks. We should never overestimate ourselves or be wise in our own opinion.

 

Verse 20 says that if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this, you will heap coals of fire on his head.  This verse is not referring to your hungry and thirsty friend, but your hungry and thirsty enemy! In the flesh, we want to fight back against our enemy, but God has a better way. He says that when you fight back, you will be overcome by evil, but when you respond with love and kindness, then you overcome evil with good.

 

We should hate that which is evil; be patient in tribulation; bless those who persecute us and not curse them; avenge not ourselves; repay no one evil for evil; overcome evil with good; and live at peace with all men.

 

God does not tell us to do these things to torment us, but to bring us into a place of blessing and victory. God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path – let us take God’s Word and apply it in our daily lives.